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 »
Dividing a home becomes necessary when multiple persons or businesses own property together, and one wants out. For married couples, the process of dividing such property generally occurs through a divorce. For non-married persons, such as siblings who own inherited more »
Renting out a home for the first time can be an eye-opening experience for many new landlords. Few realize how many laws and regulations cover landlord-tenant matters in Massachusetts, and the repercussions if a landlord fails to follow the law. more »
The Appeals Court issued an interesting case last week concerning the overburdening of an easement. The case concerned the use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) (better known as “four wheelers” by this Vermonter!) on a beach in Gloucester. This case discusses more »
Evicting a section 8 tenant is a process that generally follows the usual steps for a Massachusetts eviction, but with several extra requirements. Special care must be given towards following these added steps of the process. Section 8 Overview Section more »
Setback requirements are among the most common zoning requirements in Massachusetts. Such requirements place limits on the location where buildings and other structures can be placed on a property, with the goal of preventing overcrowding. Common setback requirements are for more »
