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Posted in evictions, laws, News - 0 Comments
The Jim Brooks Stabilization Act, H.4142, has been sent to study for this legislative session. The act sought to change state law on summary process (evictions) within the City of Boston. The act would have set precedent state-wide. Motivation for the Act Advocates for the act described it as a…
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On April 10, the Worcester City Council forwarded a moratorium on the “four or more” rule concerning unrelated residents to the Economic Development Subcommittee. This is generally viewed as a favorable step towards reform. The “four or more” rule prohibits four or more unrelated occupants from cohabiting unless the premises…
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By Peter Vickery, Legislative Affairs Counsel, Staff Journalist Heavy snowfall across Massachusetts these past few months has kept property owners busy shoveling, plowing, and de-icing. Under the State Sanitary Code, owners are responsible for keeping all means of egress, exterior stairways, fire escapes, balconies, and bridges free of snow and…
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The question of whether a landlord can prohibit satellite dishes has come up several times in the last year: in private correspondence, at two events, and in last month’s review of LegalZoom. On July 6, 2017, MassLandlords received a pleasant but unsolicited communication from Steve Hill, President of the Satellite…
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Attorney Robert Brown invited MassLandlords to participate in stakeholder meetings about MGL Chapter 21 Section 67, which mandates that MassDEP should issue new regulations requiring sprinklers and more to be shut off when it’s raining. MassDEP is looking for input on how to define “newly installed” and “renovated” irrigation systems;…
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Application fees are one of those areas where inexperienced landlords follow common sense instead of the law, and pay penalties as a result. 254 The law for property owners and managers is clear. It states that prior to the beginning of a tenancy, no lessor may require payment for anything…
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Judge Robert Fields, Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Housing Court, Western Division, presented to the Rental Housing Association of Greater Springfield on Thursday, December 14. Associate Justice Robert Fields of the Western Division Housing Court discussed rent escrow and other topics in Longmeadow in December. Judge Fields was joined by…
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Guest Article by Doug Quattrochi in his capacity as Private Landlord Is the LegalZoom lease for Massachusetts any good? An in-depth review of LegalZoom and its lease for Massachusetts rental property. Is the LegalZoom lease for Massachusetts any good? What would a LegalZoom review say? I paid for the $29…
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The applicable regulation is 105 CMR 410, the Minimum Standards of Fitness for Human Habitation (aka State Sanitary Code). The quickest way to answer whether landlords have to provide window coverings is to view the regulation electronically and “find in file” for relevant keywords. At first glance, it would appear…
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Landlords must help the tenant maintain 64 to 68 °F from September 15 to June 15 under the MA heat laws. Massachusetts apartment heating laws are specified in the State Sanitary Code, officially 105 CMR 410 The Minimum Standards of Fitness for Human Habitation. This regulation has the force of…
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