A new study using data from Boston analyzes how the characteristics of different landlords impact their actions when it comes to evicting tenants. The study focuses on small versus large landlords, defined as those owning 15 or more properties—a demographic that makes...
Landlord Tenant Law
Have You Ever Wondered About the Darker Past of Your Home?
Have you ever wondered about the darker past of your home? If so, it’s probably because your realtor didn’t tell you about it. According to Massachusetts State law (G.L. chapter 93, s.114), realtors are not required to tell buyers if homes are “stigmatized” — a...
HUD Orders Dallas Housing Authority to Pay $500,000 Housing Discrimination Settlement
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced it reached an agreement with the Dallas Housing Authority (DHA) this September, requiring the DHA to pay $500,000 for an alleged housing discrimination violation from 2019. The U.S. Department of...
Department of Defense Hasn’t Tracked Lead Exposure in Military Kids
When it comes to screening and testing Massachusetts military children for lead exposure, there’s no one at the helm to make sure it’s happening, according to a new report from government auditors. And the auditors are questioning the accuracy of Department of Defense...
Massachusetts Renters Discriminated Against For Having Section 8 Vouchers
Ellen applied for a Section 8 housing voucher in 2018 because she was having trouble paying the rent for her Malden apartment, where she lives with her two sons. She works part time at a nursing home. A voucher would be a huge help by covering a portion of her rent...
Tenant Screening Software Firms Fined $100K for Discriminating Against Section 8 Massachusetts Recipients
Two companies that make software for landlords have agreed to pay Massachusetts $100,000 and eliminate a feature that allows property managers to automatically reject prospective tenants with criminal records or people who plan to use government assistance to pay the...
Housing Discrimination on the Rise in Massachusetts
Four housing discrimination cases in Massachusetts, including one in Ashland and another in Wellesley, were settled recently by Attorney General Maura Healey’s office. In each case, potential tenants were denied housing from real estate brokers and agencies based on...
Has Your Massachusetts Landlord Denied Your Right to Have an Emotional Support Animal?
A New Hampshire tenant was awarded $35,000 from the John J. Flatley Company, which owns and runs apartment complexes in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, after an apartment complex wouldn't let the tenant's emotional support dog stay on the property, said federal...
Your Rights in a Massachusetts Rooming House
What Is a Massachusetts Rooming House? A rooming house is a business that rents out 4 individual rooms or more in the same building. They are sometimes called boarding houses, lodging houses, or single room occupancy units (SROs). Individual renters usually have their...
Can I Break My Massachusetts Lease if I Live With Domestic Violence?
Anyone can move out and break their Massachusetts lease. But the results can be costly. Usually, You may still owe the landlord rent for some months that are left on your lease. You may have to pay a fee for breaking your lease. Your old landlord will give a bad...