News Archives - Page 11 of 101

Renting Less Than Four Rooms: Sanitary Code Tips

First Published August 26th, 2025 | Updated November 4th, 2026 Posted in News

A photograph of a bedroom with the door open, revealing a kitchen in the next room. A double bed with a gray bedspread takes up most of the room, with a dresser and window on the opposite wall. The walls are white.

Renting four or more rooms individually may require a license, but remember the state sanitary code provides rules for landlords renting out three or fewer rooms, as well.

What is a Lodging? When Do I Need a Rooming House License?

Posted on August 26th, 2025 Posted in News

A photograph of a gray triple-decker house with a red SUV parked in front

What does it mean in Massachusetts for a building to be a lodging?

Massachusetts Urban Conservancy Launches First Fundraiser for Biodiversity Project in Randolph

First Published August 26th, 2025 | Updated August 28th, 2025 Posted in buildings, News

Our new conservancy MUC is raising funds to support its first project, the purchase, protection and removal of invasive plants from a small plot in Randolph.

Testimony opposed to Homesharing as drafted. 194 S.992 H.1473 An Act to expand housing opportunities through homesharing.

Posted on August 3rd, 2025 Posted in News

MassLandlords. Better communities. Better Policy. Better Lives. Our legal purpose is to create better rental housing. Testimony opposed to Homesharing as drafted. H.1473 An Act to expand housing opportunities through homesharing. S.992 An Act to expand housing options through homesharing. Prepared for The Joint Committee on Housing, General Court care of Luke O'Roark, luke.oroark@mahouse.gov, Meg Ribera, meg.ribera@masenate.gov. July 23, 2025.

The homesharing bills as drafted would allow 3-day evictions, would not require going to court, and would open the door to economic subservience and other social ills.

MassLandlords Submits Testimony in Support of RAFT Conditional on Public Records

Posted on July 31st, 2025 Posted in News

Click the pdf to read the text. This image contains a preview of the pdf showing the one-page letter with signature of Doug Quattrochi.

MassLandlords will only support the RAFT program if it contains a provision that its records are public records, insofar as they describe the address the public is paying for.

Can Landlords Charge Move-Out and Item Removal Fees in Massachusetts?

Posted on July 29th, 2025 Posted in News

A residential garage space is full of old furniture and some tools and other items. A green lawn chair sits front and center in front of an old desk or workbench.

Billing your former tenants for trash removal, abandoned items or other move-out costs may be lawful, but use caution.

Avoid Court and Costly Legal Fees with the MassLandlords Helpline aka Hotline or Mediation Service

First Published July 29th, 2025 | Updated January 5th, 2026 Posted in News

An old fashioned red cat clock sits on a beige wall. Blue Post-It notes surround the cat with statements such as “Security Deposit Violation” and “ESA?” in block letters, representing landlord concerns.

This member benefit acts as a hotline that can offer business advice to help you mediate with tenants, avoid court, and make better use of expensive attorneys.

Letter from the Executive Director for August 2025: Politics, Ugh

Posted on July 29th, 2025 Posted in News

Our Letter from the Executive Director for August 2025 looks at changes happening legislatively.

Rent Control Hearing Tuesday, July 29 (194 S.1447 Jehlen, Gomez)

First Published July 28th, 2025 | Updated December 23rd, 2025 Posted in News

Landlord Donna Javorski cries before the rent control board as her husband Emil tries to comfort her.

Rent control as proposed by Senator Patricia Jehlen would defund towns, hurt good renters, hurt good landlords, decrease property maintenance and be cruel.

“Broker Fee Ban” Signed into Law via Budget; Zillow Application Fees Apparently Banned

First Published July 16th, 2025 | Updated September 30th, 2025 Posted in News

FY 2026 Budget Conference Committee. About this step. The House and Senate appoint three members each to a "Conference Committee" to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate proposals. One member of the minority party must be appointed by each branch. The Conference Committee reports a final compromise bill to the House and Senate for a final vote of acceptance in each branch. Conference Report H.4240 Download PDF.

The Massachusetts Fiscal Year 2026 budget enacted a new change to broker fees for rental housing, sometimes called a broker fee ban. We review it and answer frequently asked questions.