MassLandlords Terminates Contract with Rental Housing Association of Berkshire County; RHABC Members Still In Good Standing

MassLandlords announced Tuesday, March 31, that it was dissolving its service contract with the Rental Housing Association of Berkshire County (RHABC), primarily due to lack of local engagement with the rental housing community. This is expected to have very little practical impact on RHABC members, who will retain their MassLandlords membership.

Documents from the Secretary of the Commonwealth show RHABC’s business entity was involuntarily dissolved in 2012. We knew this when we signed the service contract; we treated the RHABC as an unincorporated club. At that time, they still met. (Image License: CC BY-SA 4.0 MassLandlords, Inc.)

There were several key reasons for the separation, including that RHABC’s formal organization was involuntarily dissolved by the Secretary of the Commonwealth years ago.

Additionally, it has been hard to find volunteers to lead RHABC on a local level. This is not unique to RHABC, but makes partnering with the group a challenge.

“To the best of my knowledge, the organization has not met in person since the pandemic, with the exception of when I called a meeting Dec. 3 at the Athenaeum and a lead course,” MassLandlords Executive Director Doug Quattrochi wrote in a letter to RHABC members announcing the separation.

Finally, the separation will allow MassLandlords to put RHABC dues to good use. Until now, dues from RHABC members, minus service charges, were remitted to a RHABC bank account, but very little was happening with those funds. Some went toward a lead paint course, but otherwise, the money was untouched. Those dues will now go toward furthering MassLandlords’ goals, primarily the fight against the November 2026 rent control ballot question. (All members should join that fight. Visit our volunteer page to let us know how you can help.)

The accounting changeover will allow RHABC members to be considered full MassLandlords members. This includes the ability to vote in annual elections. It also reduces administrative costs.

The regional Google group message board will remain active. Members can also request to join our private Facebook group, “MassLandlords Members Only.”  RHABC members paying grandfathered dues will be eligible to continue membership at the same rate, as long as the card they have on file remains active for autorenewal.

Feel free to reach out to us at hello@masslandlords.net with any questions.