Part I: The Certified Massachusetts Landlord™ In-Depth
MassLandlords is launching our new optional state-wide certification! This segment will review the certification in-depth, covering best practices, the upcoming exam, and our continuing education opportunities.
We will start with the certification context, including a review of existing professional certifications for owners and managers of residential real estate. Then we’ll review the motivations for creating our own program, and share our end vision. We will give a step-by-step guide for how to start certification online and what to expect with the exam, which will be available January 2020.
This part of the presentation will be given by MassLandlords staff.
Part II: Eviction and Serving Notices to Quit
Try as we might, not every tenancy is stable and not every tenant recognizes this and leaves promptly. Sometimes we need to start “summary process”, which is the legal term for a Massachusetts eviction. This segment walks us through the eviction process with emphasis on the serving of notices by constables and sheriffs.
Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of the notice to quit, summons and complaint, and execution. We’ll go over how to serve notice and will share some stories of service gone wrong.
This part of the presentation will use MassLandlords repertoire slides and will be given by Mark Weisberg, constable.
A Screenshot of the Certification Logo to appear on our Professional ProfilesMark Weisberg, Constable will be Presenting (cartoon bears no resemblance).
Have you seen our Charles River volunteer website? Market data available on rent levels for Waltham and surrounding areas. We encourage you to also take the poll on your current views of the rental market. Use the “Contact Us” form to request a login at crrha.org
MassLandlords offers attendees of directly managed events a “No Sales Pitch” guarantee. If a guest speaker offers services, their presentation will not discuss pricing, promotions, or reasons why you should hire them. We do not permit speakers to pay for or sponsor events. Guest speakers are chosen for their expertise and willingness to present helpful educational content. Your purchase of an event ticket sustains our nonprofit model.
Tuesday, November 5th
Charles River Meeting Agenda
6:00pm Sign-in/Networking
Networking draws from Waltham, Newton, Weston, Watertown, Wellesley, Wellesley Hills, Lincoln, Dover, Arlington, Belmont, and the western ends of Cambridge and Boston.
6:10pm Pizza and sodas provided
6:40pm Executive Director Doug Quattrochi with the MassLandlords Business Update
Member Minutes – Any member can have the mic for 60 seconds (introduce yourself, ask a question, share words of wisdom, etc.)
Lots of parking available at this hour. For your ease of access, do not use the Beaver St entrance. Enter at the Main Entrance on Forest Street and park in Lot 1 or Lot 2. The Conference Center is signed on the north corner of the main quadrangle. Refer to the image below for lot locations and correct entrance into building.
Food
Pizza, salad
Soda, Water
Cookies
Please feel free to bring a dinner that meets your dietary goals/restrictions
Pricing
Open to the public. Membership is not required!
Door:
Public: $34
Members: $29
Early-bird, reserve seven days prior by 12pm:
Public: $32
Members: $24
Premium Members: No charge and no need to register
On Monday, September 16, 2019, a significant ruling was issued by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in the case of Davis v Comerford. The landlord requested rent be set aside in escrow. The renter argued that not only was escrow unwarranted in this case, but rent escrow was illegal in all cases.
Attorney Peter Vickery will walk us through the amicus brief MassLandlords filed in the case of Davis v Comerford. He will also review the tenant brief and spend most of the hour on the final decision by the SJC. In the decision, the court established guidelines for rent escrow motions. Attendees will leave understanding the factors judges must consider when evaluating rent escrow motions. Suitable for landlord-tenant attorneys and advanced self-represented DIY landlords. All are welcome.
Attorney Peter VickeryCoversheet of the MassLandlords amicus brief in Davis v Comerford
Friday, November 8th
12:00pm Webinar Begins
1:00pm Webinar Ends
Registration
Public: $6
Members: $3
Upon purchasing, you will be registered. A password for the webinar will be sent day-of. Registrants will also have full access to the recording to watch or rewatch any time after the webinar is completed.
Password will be emailed to registrants immediately upon registration. Check your spam or click here (log in and the page will show the webinar password).
Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +16468769923,,265729407# or +16699006833,,265729407#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 646 876 9923 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 408 638 0968
Webinar ID: 265 729 407
International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/aezzlVDnur
Part I: Forms Review: Security Deposit Receipt, Animal Addendum
Based on member input, we didn’t get enough of security deposits last time. Also, members have been paying attention and want to review our newly updated animal addendum. We’ll be covering both of these in some detail.
First, security deposits are one of the major legal exposures for landlords in Massachusetts. You need to issue one receipt when you take the deposit, another receipt when you deposit it into an account, an annual statement, and a final accounting at the end of the tenancy. Security deposits are difficult but doable. We’ll show you how! (Note: We will not be presenting the security deposit slides. This is form-forward review: we will put the forms on-screen and walk through them together.) (This section will be less than ten minutes, just a quick reminder).
Before we put away the forms, we’ll also walk through our updated animal addendum. Released on September 13, 2019, version 6 is a complete overhaul. We’ve elminated confusing things (you know you can’t charge pet rent, right?) and we’ve added details from members who’ve had iguanas, pet cockroaches, Guinea pigs and more for house guests. (This section will be up to 30 minutes, in-depth review of animal clauses.)
Part II: Section 1031 Exchanges
What’s the biggest tax savings ever? How about if you saved over $100,000? Come learn about IRS Section 1031, which allows owners to avoid recapture tax.
In a nutshell, owners can depreciate their property, saving tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes over the life of the building, and then they can sell out and transfer that money into new property of like kind without paying recapture tax. Everyone serious about rental property as an investment vehicle should understand Section 1031. But it’s not for the faint of heart! Tight timelines are involved. If you do it only once if your life, it will still save you $100,000 or more, depending on the value of your property.
This part will be presented by Chris Brown of Edmund & Wheeler.
Security Deposit Forms and the new Animal AddendumChris Brown of Edmund and Wheeler on 1031 Exchanges
Have you seen our Leave Stuff, Take Stuff Table?
Market your business, pick up handouts, give away an old doorknob. Everything goes on our first-come, first-served display table at all our events. Please bring business cards, brochures, coupons. And feel free to pick up your own uncollected marketing materials at the end. Everything not claimed end-of-event may be chucked.
“No Sales Pitch” Guarantee
MassLandlords offers attendees of directly managed events a “No Sales Pitch” guarantee. If a guest speaker offers services, their presentation will not discuss pricing, promotions, or reasons why you should hire them. We do not permit speakers to pay for or sponsor events. Guest speakers are chosen for their expertise and willingness to present helpful educational content. Your purchase of an event ticket sustains our nonprofit model.
Wednesday, November 13th
Meeting Agenda
5:30pm Sign-in/Networking
Networking draws from Worcester, Shrewsbury, Millbury, Auburn, Leicester, Paxton, Holden, West Boylston, Boylston, Grafton, Upton, Northbridge, Sutton, Oxford, Charlton, Spencer, Oakham, Rutland, Princeton, Clinton, and Sterling.
6:15pm Buffet Dinner by The Vintage Grille
6:40pm MassLandlords Business Update and Member Minutes
Member Minutes – Any member can have the mic for 60 seconds (introduce yourself, ask a question, share words of wisdom, etc.)
7:00pm Rich Merlino Meeting Introduction
7:05pm Forms Review: Security Deposits and Animal Addendum
There is ample free parking in the first lot you see, in the covered garage to your left, on top of the garage (entrance further down road), and around the back of the school
Food
Cheese and crackers, sodas, water, coffee, decaf
Hot buffet dinner, incl. salad, rolls
Cookies, brownies, and/or blondies
*Dietary restrictions: purchase an early-bird ticket and email hello@masslandlords.net, we will accommodate you.
Pricing
Open to the public. Membership is not required!
Door:
Public: $24
Members: $19
Early-bird, reserve seven days prior by 12pm:
Public: $22
Members: $14
Premium Members: No charge and no need to register
Extra Credit
First time attendees: Join as a member before leaving the event, your public ticket will be credited toward membership.
Members: Bring a first-time attendee who joins at the event, your membership will be extended by one month free. No limit.
This event is operated by MassLandlords staff. Check in with your MassLandlords ID card.
You’d expect the Pioneer Valley to have fresh clean air, but actually Hampden and Hampshire counties consistently receive failing grades from the American Lung Association’s “State of the Air” report. That’s because the Pioneer Valley is like “the LA of Massachusetts,” trapping smog and ozone that blow here from the rest of the country. You won’t stay in business long if your renters can’t breathe.
Fortunately, you can get a free home assessment for asthma triggers or other health issues, free education for your renters on keeping the premises clean, and best of all, free kitchen and bathroom ventilation, free carpet removal, free pest management, free leak repair, and free mold remediation. The only catch is your renter needs to be on medicaid, medicare, or have been to the ER or hospital for an asthma attack in the last year. Renters and homeowners are eligible to participate.
This part of the presentation will be given by Sarita Hudson, Director of Programs and Development for the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts. Sarita brings over 25 years of experience managing programs, developing coalitions, and building community capacity on issues including sexual violence prevention, women’s rights, and social justice. She is a member of the Steering and Healthy Housing Committees of the Massachusetts Asthma Action Partnership, the American Lung Association’s Asthma in Adults Leadership Team and Board Member of Safe Passage. Sarita holds a Master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School.
Part II: Meet the Sheriffs
Who would you call if you had to give a tenant an eviction notice? One option would be to call the Sheriff. We’ll be talking with the Sheriffs about civil process (meaning, eviction notices) and all that this entails.
We’ll hear stories of evictions they’ve managed, learn why we should hire professionals instead of doing it ourselves, and then learn how to do it ourselves anyway if we want.
Make the acquaintance before you need to hire them. This is a rare opportunity to learn from experienced county officials.
This part of the presentation will be given by Chief Deputy Bob Hoffman and others from the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department. What they discuss will be applicable to owners in other counties, as well.
Sarita Hudson from the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts will speak on eliminating Asthma HazardsChief Deputy Bob Hoffman and others from the Hampden County Sheriff will Speak on Serving Notices
MassLandlords offers attendees of directly managed events a “No Sales Pitch” guarantee. If a guest speaker offers services, their presentation will not discuss pricing, promotions, or reasons why you should hire them. We do not permit speakers to pay for or sponsor events. Guest speakers are chosen for their expertise and willingness to present helpful educational content. Your purchase of an event ticket sustains our nonprofit model.
Thursday, November 14th
RHAGS Meeting Agenda
5:30pm Sign-in and Networking
Cash bar
Networking draws from Springfield, West Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee, Ludlow, Wilbraham, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Agawam, Southwick, Southampton, Easthampton, Northampton, Westhampton, Hadley, South Hadley, Granby, Amherst, Belchertown, Ware, Palmer, Warren, Monson, and Hampden.
6:00pm Buffet dinner
6:40pm State-wide Business Update and Member Minutes
Our guest speakers for the evening will be from the Worcester housing court. Learn from the professionals on what to do and what not to do, should you find yourself in housing court.
Please email your questions in advance to info@belaire.co with “Housing Court Questions” as your subject line where Brian Lucier, NWCLA President, will be your moderator for the evening.
Please DO NOT use actual court cases or dockets for your questions. All questions should be prefaced as “hypothetical scenarios”, or your questions will be disqualified.
Thursday, November 14th
NWCLA Meeting Agenda
Visit nwcla.com for any last-minute updates or changes.
6:45pm Dinner and Networking
Networking draws from 25 towns including Fitchburg, Gardner, Leominster, Athol, Holden, Ayer, Orange, Ashburnham, Spencer, Ashby, Lunenburg, Townsend, Westminster, Princeton, Sterling, Lancaster, Shirley, Groton, Pepperell, Winchedon, Templeton, and Hubbardston.
There is ample free parking beside the school. Do not park along the fence where the busses park. Do not park in any of the handicap spots unless you have the proper handicap parking sticker.
Food
Dinner by Happy Jack’s Cantina Grille from N. Main St. in Leominster.
Pricing
Membership not required! Open to the public.
Early-bird ends seven days prior @ 12pm:
Public and Members other than NWCLA: $15
MassLandlords.net/NWCLA members: pay annual dues, then free
After Early bird or at the door:
Public and Members other than NWCLA: $20
MassLandlords.net/NWCLA members: pay annual dues, then free
Unlike the building code, which is usually inspected only at time of permit completion, the state sanitary code applies in all rentals all the time, and can be inspected at any time. Are your units compliant?
Few units are fully compliant. We’ll review the code in easy-to-understand detail and help you get a sense of where you may need to make repairs or improvements.
This segment will be presentation-style with MassLandlords staff.
Part II: Surprising Pro Tips for Insurance
Do you have ordinance or law coverage? Are you prepared for any disaster? Whether it’s a fire or a lawsuit, you need insurance to protect your assets. We’ll start off with insurance do’s and don’ts and the top five ways to reduce claims and premium costs. We’ll then explain the difference between replacement cost vs cash value, the need for vacancy insurance, and common things landlords miss that increase litigation exposure.
This part of the presentation will be given by Matthew Pelrine, Account Executive for NorthStar Insurance Services. Matthew works with clients to implement comprehensive and cost-effective insurance and risk management solutions; his main areas of focus include real estate and construction. In addition to his work with NorthStar, Matt has served on the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston’s Board of Directors since January, 2016 and was elected as the Association’s Treasurer this past January. Prior to joining NorthStar in 2013, Matt proudly served our country with the United States Marine Corps for six years. Matt is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, where he played on the men’s lacrosse team.
Your problem or theirs? The state sanitary code holds occupants responsible for some things, and landlords responsible for most everything elseNorth Star Insurance Services will be Covering Fire Casualty and Other Topics
Market your business, pick up handouts, give away an old doorknob. Everything goes on our first-come, first-served display table at all our events. Please bring business cards, brochures, coupons. And feel free to pick up your own uncollected marketing materials at the end. Everything not claimed end-of-night may be chucked.
“No Sales Pitch” Guarantee
MassLandlords offers attendees of directly managed events a “No Sales Pitch” guarantee. If a guest speaker offers services, their presentation will not discuss pricing, promotions, or reasons why you should hire them. We do not permit speakers to pay for or sponsor events. Guest speakers are chosen for their expertise and willingness to present helpful educational content. Your purchase of an event ticket sustains our nonprofit model.
Tuesday, November 19th
Cambridge Meeting Agenda
5:30pm Sign-in and Networking
Networking draws from Cambridge, Boston, Somerville, Arlington, Belmont, Watertown, and Malden.
6:00pm Buffet Dinner
6:40pm Executive Director Doug Quattrochi with the MassLandlords Business Update
Member Minutes – Any member can have the mic for 60 seconds (introduce yourself, ask a question, share words of wisdom, etc.)
Please note: CIC has several buildings in Kendall Square, two of them being adjacent to each other. The correct location for this event is the building with light colored concrete, vertical windows and a Dunkin Donuts on the ground level. You will NOT see a CIC sign. Refer to the image below.
ID required Upon entering One Broadway, you will need to check in with the lobby security. You’ll just need to show your ID and let them know you’re going to the MassLandlords event in the 5th floor Venture Cafe.
Accessing from the T
Exit the Kendall T stop on Main St.
Cross to the northeast side of Main St. with the Marriott and Chipotle and walk down the street away from Cambridge towards the Longfellow Bridge to Boston.
Cross through the plaza with the five-foot high metal globe; One Broadway is the building undergoing construction across the next street.
Cross over Broadway to arrive at One Broadway.
Parking
Just $10 at Pilgrim Parking, enter after 4pm, a two-minute walk from One Broadway, click here for details. Be careful, some garages are $30. Accessible by T (red line Kendall Square) and highway. For additional parking options see CIC Directions.
Food
Buffet, incl. salad and rolls
Water, sodas
Cookies
*Dietary restrictions: purchase an early-bird ticket and email hello@masslandlords.net, we will accommodate you.
Leftover food is donated to members and/or homeless shelters.
Pricing
Open to the public. Membership is not required!
Door:
Public: $24
Members: $19
Early-bird, reserve seven days prior by 12pm:
Public: $22
Members: $14
Nametags are printed for early-bird public, early-bird member, and premium members only.
Extra Credit
First time attendees: Join as a member before leaving the event, your public ticket will be credited toward membership.
Members: Bring a first-time attendee who joins at the event, your membership will be extended by one month free. No limit.
Howard Siegel — Has been in the security and Information Technology business for more than 25 years. The owner of Bug buster’s computer services and H and S investigations group.
Experts in IT and physical security. In the IT world they manage many clients’ networks and monitor the network traffic, installing antivirus applications to help prevent any intrusion among many other services.
The security portion of the business offers full investigative services and physical security including background checks and complete surveillance services. They install security cameras and offer bodyguard and uniform guard services as needed.
Another service that is offered is firearms training both non live fire and live fire. Howard is a Massachusetts certified firearms instructor and a range security officer as well as a licensed firearms dealer. He and his company can assist you with all of your security needs.
Our Events are Held at Zucchini’s Restaurant in Pittsfield
Tuesday, November 19thth
Berkshire County Meeting Agenda
6:00pm Networking
Networking draws from Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Stockbridge, Pittsfield, Lanesborough, Cheshire, New Ashford, Adams, North Adams, Clarksburg, Williamstown, Florida, Savoy, Hancock, Dalton, Windsor, Hinsdale, Peru, Richmond, Washington, West Stockbridge, Becket, Tyringham, Alford, Otis, Monterey, Sandisfield, New Marlborough, Sheffield, Egremont, and Mount Washington.
