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Should I Have My Rental’s Common Areas on Their Own Electric Meter?

First Published July 7th, 2021 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 5 Comments

While legal under certain circumstances, having adjacent units pay for common-area electricity can cause headaches for landlords

5 Eviction Myths in Massachusetts

First Published August 13th, 2019 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 3 Comments

Learn these five Massachusetts eviction myths and understand why the housing crisis is not being solved by current proposals.

Davis v Comerford

First Published May 10th, 2019 | Updated April 13th, 2023

The SJC case Davis v Comerford decides whether Massachusetts courts have the authority to escrow rent in landlord tenant disputes.

Worcester Breaks Ground on Housing for Those Experiencing Homelessness

First Published September 22nd, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

This image is an architect’s rendering of a three-story blue housing complex with white roof. The residence has many windows and a covered front porch area. In front of the unit is a parking lot, in the background are many mature trees, a gazebo to the right of the building and a place to store bicycles, with two bikes visible in front of the gazebo. Two vehicles are parked in parking spaces, and a man in a suit walks toward the front door.

A Place to Live will have 24 studio micro units available on a sliding scale to people who are unhoused.

How to Avoid Discriminating Against Someone Based on Ancestry

First Published September 21st, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

This image is a drawing of the outline of the state of Massachusetts, with colored-in areas representing the approximate places where different Indigenous or Native American tribes lived. Moving left to right across the state, the Mohican area is colored light red, then the Abenaki tribe in blue sits above the Pocumtuc tribal area, which is yellow. Next comes the Nipmuc land in green, and the Wampanoag tribe covering most of the right side of the state in light orange. A tiny area at the top of the state in light blue represents the area occupied by the Pennacook tribe.

Housing discrimination based on someone’s ancestry, similar to their national origin, is illegal under the Fair Housing Act.

Massachusetts Signs CROWN Act Into Law – Discrimination Based on Protective Hairstyles Now Illegal

First Published September 12th, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

This image is a cartoon drawing of a young Black woman wearing a purple and gold superhero outfit with golden yellow cape and boots. She holds a yellow semi-circle shield up in one hand, which is deflecting many comments in text bubbles that are flying at her. The bubbles read “Is that your real hair?”, “My hair would never do that”, “Isn’t that a lot of work?”, “How much did that cost?”, “Why don’t you get it straightened?” and “Your hair looks so soft. Can I touch it?” She smiles at her successful deflection of these questions, now unlawful under the CROWN Act.

The law prohibits employers and schools from banning protective hairstyles, but has discrimination implications for housing providers as well.

Is it Legal to Have Blocked Dates for Move-Outs in a Month-to-month Tenancy?

First Published August 24th, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 1 Comment

This image is a photograph of a plowed residential street in the wintertime, with high snow banks on either side of the road and slush around the banks. Houses are covered in snow, and cars parked on the street are blocked in with plowed snow.

Landlords may not want tenants moving out in the winter, but can they restrict tenants at will from giving notice during certain months?

How to Avoid a Retaliation Complaint from Your Tenants

First Published August 9th, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 3 Comments

This image is a cartoon drawing of a group of about 12 people standing on the street outside an apartment building. Two are holding a large banner that reads “Main Street Tenants Union.” Other people are holding smaller signs that read “Free Cable,” “Lower Rent,” “Vote for Me,” “Better Lease Terms,” “Yes to Pets,” “I Want to Open a Home Laundry Service” and “I’m Just Here for the Free Pizza.”

Landlords must be cautious when raising rent, terminating a tenancy or making other changes to rental agreements.

Help! My Tenant Wants to Use My Rental for Their Business

First Published July 15th, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 4 Comments

This is a cartoon image of a tan house with gray shutters sitting on a lawn. The roof of the house is coming off, and bubbles can be seen pouring out, down the side of the house, and onto the lawn, where a very dirty puppy sits happily, also covered in bubbles. A sign out front reads “Nancy’s Laundromat and Dog Grooming.”

Your tenant wants to sell something from their rental, run a daycare, start growing plants. Should you let them?

Landlords: Don’t Invest Your Security Deposits in Bitcoin

First Published June 30th, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 1 Comment

This image is of a graph showing Bitcoin’s value fluctuation over one day. The trademark symbol for Bitcoin is superimposed over the graph.

A Massachusetts landlord reportedly invested a security deposit in cryptocurrency and tried to pass the loss on to their tenant.

Should I Have My Rental’s Common Areas on Their Own Electric Meter?

5 Eviction Myths in Massachusetts

Davis v Comerford

Worcester Breaks Ground on Housing for Those Experiencing Homelessness

How to Avoid Discriminating Against Someone Based on Ancestry

Massachusetts Signs CROWN Act Into Law – Discrimination Based on Protective Hairstyles Now Illegal

Is it Legal to Have Blocked Dates for Move-Outs in a Month-to-month Tenancy?

How to Avoid a Retaliation Complaint from Your Tenants

Help! My Tenant Wants to Use My Rental for Their Business

Landlords: Don’t Invest Your Security Deposits in Bitcoin

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