Every Massachusetts rental agreement must have certain terms, and is prohibited from containing certain other terms. The lease must include the name, address, and phone number of the owner, the person responsible for maintenance, and the person to whom the tenant can...
Your rights and responsibilities as either a Massachusetts landlord or a tenant depend on whether the tenancy is based on a lease or is an at-will tenancy. Tenancy based on a lease When a tenant signs a lease with a landlord, the tenant agrees that the tenancy will...
The unprecedented disappearance of 26 million U.S. jobs in mere weeks has left many Massachusetts renters scrambling to make their monthly payments. If your source of income dried up or was seriously curtailed, you might be considering moving into a cheaper place, or...
Many Massachusetts landlords are unaware that before charging tenants for hot water and sewer service, they must comply with the numerous requirements of the Massachusetts Water Sewer Sub-Metering Law. These requirements include having separate water meters for each...
If you already have some experience as a Massachusetts rental property owner under your belt, you should support the argument that finding good renters is a crucial aspect of protecting your business. Great tenants will abide by your policies, pay rent on time, and...
Does a Massachusetts landlord have to approve a Section 8 applicant? No, so long as the reason for the rejection is not the Section 8 voucher. Landlords are required by state law to participate in the Section 8 program, if a Section 8 voucher holder is the most...
If you are a Massachusetts landlord, when you leased your premises, you took a security deposit from your tenant. Unfortunately, you did not comply with the strict requirements set forth in the Security Deposit Act.Perhaps you failed to deposit the funds in a...
Application fees are one of those areas where inexperienced Massachusetts landlords follow common sense instead of the law, and pay penalties as a result. The law for property owners and managers is clear. It states that prior to the beginning of a tenancy, no lessor...
Do you own multiple-family dwelling units in Massachusetts ? Are you considering entering the market as an owner? If so, you must be familiar with the Massachusetts Lead Paint Law (Lead Law).The Lead Law is a robust policy designed to protect children.Owners should...
Massachusetts landlords must help the tenant maintain 64 to 68 °F from September 15 to June 15 under the Massachusetts heat laws. Massachusetts apartment heating laws are specified in the State Sanitary Code, officially 105 CMR 410 The Minimum Standards of Fitness for...