Commercial leases are often very different than leases used for residential property. Compared to residential landlord-tenant law, which comes with a myriad of rules and regulations on almost every part of the rental process, commercial landlord-tenant law allows parties much more »
Being a landlord isn’t easy. Many are surprised about how many responsibilities come with this work, and the potential pitfalls that can arise when things are not done correctly. Here, I’ll discuss three landlord mistakes to avoid. Not Having a more »
A recent article discusses a growing trend of millennials buying a home with others. The reasons for doing so make complete sense, given rising home prices and a competitive buyer’s market. Here, I’ll discuss some things to consider before making more »
Drugs in a rental apartment are a serious problem for landlords. Aside from the obvious dangers that arise anytime illegal drugs are involved, landlords can face potential liability for not addressing such matters right away. Fortunately, Massachusetts law has an more »
The process of getting a tenant out of a rental unit must always be done through a formal court process, known as eviction (referred to as “summary process” in court). Any attempt to get rid of a tenant without court more »
It’s a common misconception that every lawsuit ends up before a judge and jury (as we commonly see on TV and in the movies). Instead, most legal cases are settled out-of-court, through an agreement among the parties. In my nine more »
After a home is foreclosed in Massachusetts, an eviction case is almost always required to obtain possession of the property from those persons remaining in the home. A foreclosure only changes ownership of a property, not possession. For possession, a more »
The Appeals Court issued an important decision this week clarifying when “pet rent” is allowed in Massachusetts. “Pet rent”, as I refer to it, is additional rent that a landlord charges a tenant for allowing a pet in a rental more »
