Read exactly what was emailed

In This Issue:

• Letter from the Executive Director
• Subscribe to the State-Wide Forum
• How Would You Like to Charge a Late Fee after 10 Days?
• New Premium Content on MassLandlords.net
• In-Depth Article on Massachusetts Eviction Process
• Blog Articles You May Have Missed
• Lead: TV's New Super Star
• Are You a "Tech" Landlord?

Letter from the Executive Director

Things seem to be running smoothly. Let me share with you some good news:

1. We've moved past the website outages. Everything seems to be working well on our new host, and I haven't heard of any issues accessing the site. From a technical perspective, there are lots of good things happening behind the scenes, including back-ups, security, and integration with other services.
2. We've started a limited advertising campaign targeting certain areas we feel we can serve. Early indications are that our ads are having a positive impact. Through growth will come legislative effectiveness.
3. We have a new, professionally designed logo, on display at the top of this newsletter and our site.
   We've managed to get to Beacon Hill once to talk with legislators about "verification of complaints," a bill currently being examined.

There's a little bit of bad news this month:

1. We get our premium video content only from the Worcester Property Owners meetings, and last month WPOA had a speaker who wouldn't be videotaped. That's fine, it's their right. We've tried to make up for it with two in-depth articles of related content, an updated spreadsheet, and a new form.

It's not bad news, but I want to point out that we had the smart team at New Leaf Legal review our website Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. They made some changes to clarify and increase readability. There were no changes about our giving away your personal information. We don't do that. Still, if you're worried, you can review these new documents at your leisure.

Explore this month's newsletter, and if you have any comments or suggestions, email me.

Sincerely,
Doug Quattrochi
Executive Director
MassLandlords.net

Subscribe to the State-Wide Forum

Premium members take note:

1. We can't add you even if you give us permission because our software requires that you click a button yourself.
2. Visit MassLandlords.net/Forum, log in if necessary, and scroll down to the topics. Make sure that just above the topics, you see the following:
3. 
4. If you don't have a green check mark, click the blue "Subscribe to Forum" link.

How Would You Like to Charge a Late Fee after 10 Days?

Sponsored by Representative Chris Walsh, HB 1670, Modification of Late Fees, would allow landlords or property managers to charge a late fee from the 10th day of the month instead of the 30th.

This bill has been extended to June 30, 2014. MassLandlords.net supports this bill.

If you would like to read some of the reasons why this bill matters, click here.

If you feel compelled to make your solo voice heard, you can contact your state reps and senators. If you'd like to lend unified support, email law@masslandlords.net with the subject, "I support HB1670."

In-Depth Article on Massachusetts Eviction Process

For the first time ever (we think), the eviction process is now laid out from a landlord's point of view, including times and costs, on our website:

masslandlords.net/legal/eviction-process-in-massachusetts/

Blog Articles You May Have Missed

Q&A about Being in Housing Court for an Eviction

If you're headed to housing court over an eviction, you'll want ot read the advice in this article: MassLandlords.net/blog

Excerpt: MassLandlords: What’s the difference between “tenant at will” and “tenant at sufferance”?

Judge: A tenant at will is a continuing, lawful arrangement. A tenant at sufferance is someone who had permission originally but now the relationship has ended....

What Makes for a Good Lease Agreement?

Available at MassLandlords.net/blog.

Excerpt: Many successful landlords operate with what’s called “tenancy at will,” or a month-to-month agreement. If one ever gets sick of the other, they can get out of the arrangement with thirty days’ notice. They can terminate the agreement just because they feel like it. That’s in stark contrast with a lease, which may not end for nearly another whole year.

A Great Way to Clear Leaves around Chain Link

Available at MassLandlords.net/blog.

Excerpt: Overall, I was surprised by how quickly I could spruce up my chain link fences by vacuuming all those leaves away. Including assembly and put-away time, I did in 40 minutes what I think would have normally taken an hour and twenty on my hands and knees.

Lead: TV's New Super Star

Have you been watching Neil deGrasse Tyson's remake of Carl Sagan's epic TV series Cosmos, about the universe?

Episode 7 gives the surprising history behind not only the age of the Earth but also mankind's use of lead in industrial applications. As a Massachusetts landlord under pressure to delead, you may find the story piques your interest.

Watch the full episode online.

Are You a "Tech" Landlord?

MassLandlords.net is delighted to partner with Buildium, property management software produced by a company headquartered in Boston.
online property management software

MassLandlords.net members get a 15 day free trial of the software, and if they decide to join Buildium as a paid member, a portion of their Buildium subscription will go to support MassLandlords.net initiatives.

A Note About Legal, Tax, or Other Advice:

Although we strive to provide information that is accurate, MassLandlords.net is neither an attorney nor a tax professional. You should always seek the advice of a properly licensed and qualified attorney or tax professional before taking action as a result of anything you read here.