Signing a lease is an important part of the landlord/tenant process. A leases spells out the terms of the landlord/tenant relationship, namely the amount of rent and how long the lease will last. Most landlords use a standard form lease more »
Ask a room full of lawyers a legal question, and you will likely get a handful of different responses. I would bet, however, that there is a major exception to this on the question of whether a landlord should accept more »
Raising rent is always a contentious issue among Massachusetts landlords and tenants. I often get asked, are raises in rent allowed? The answer depends upon the rental agreement between the parties: whether there is a lease or tenancy-at-will. A lease is more »
The Supreme Judicial Court will be hearing an appeal on a matter of great importance for Massachusetts landlord/tenant law: whether the failure to comply with the state’s security deposit law is a defense to an eviction (“summary process”). The case more »
Massachusetts has a little-known provision available for those over 65 years old involved in a civil lawsuit: the right to a speedy trial. G.L. c. 231, § 59F provides: In any civil action in any court of the commonwealth in more »
As a landlord/tenant attorney, I have learned that sometimes the simplest advice is the best. It is common, especially with contentious landlord/tenant relationships, for allegations to surface regarding the failure of one party to properly maintain the property. When one more »
A recent Boston.com article illustrates the perils of housing discrimination in Massachusetts. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil complaint against a North Attleborough apartment complex owner for discriminating against applicants with children. This owner reportedly tried to discourage renters with children from more »
Selecting tenants is one of the most challenging jobs for a landlord. Renting to anyone comes with risk, and choosing the wrong tenants can be costly, both in time and money. Landlords should use extreme care in the tenant screening process. A more »
