‘Vulture Season’ in Massachusetts Is Closed for Now
Landlords and developers got two wins in the last 30 days in the fight to stop tenant “right of first refusal” or “TOPA” laws: one on Beacon Hill and the other in a Middlesex County Courtroom.
Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Poised to Help Owners Large and Small
Federal authorities’ nearly-successful attempts to wrest a Tewksbury motel from its owner shows that the real estate industry should get behind a reform proposal on Beacon Hill.
Unvented Gas Stoves Might Need to be Illegal
In case you missed it, your unvented gas stove may be slowly debilitating you and your customers. Fortunately, replacements like induction cooktops are both cheap and more effective.
Rents Skyrocketing, Vacancies Nil but New Apartments Illegal
Time and again people have advocated to bring rent control back. With the housing crisis back to where it was before the pandemic, they will do it again if we are not responsive.
Why MassLandlords Has Sued DHCD Over Rental Assistance Records
We are asking the court to order DHCD release records on rental assistance applications, so we can see whether problems in the application process discriminated against renters of color and their landlords.
Heat Pump Water Heaters Have Not Frozen My Basement
As part of the ongoing saga to retrofit my Worcester three-decker to be zero-emission, I recently replaced two gas water heaters with heat pump water heaters. If you haven’t heard of these, grab your loofah, you’re in for some fun.
We Spent $400M for Secret Housing
The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development has denied MassLandlords’ request to see where rental assistance was spent, or where applications were denied. The result is that $400 million of our public funds were spent in secret, with no public oversight. Landlords should be outraged.
Tenant Right of First Refusal to Be Heard on Beacon Hill
Although benign-sounding, the two bills would literally destroy rental housing through their provisions for “small amounts of demolition,” among other draconian measures.
Boston’s Eviction Moratorium is Broken Beyond Repair
I understand why elected officials steer toward to the siren song of eviction moratoria. But they don’t provide long-term protection, don’t sustain our limited rental housing supply and are not legal.
The Summer Lease-Up Frenzy Victimizes Many
Before the pandemic, we had a housing crisis. After the pandemic’s first three waves, it seems things are still bad. And any landlord or property manager trying to lease up an apartment right now is watching that first-hand.
Does Someone Need to Sue for Rental Assistance?
Massachusetts has set aside roughly $1 billion for pandemic rental assistance. But roughly half of applicants aren’t able to finish their 13-page applications. The net result is a loss of affordable housing run by small landlording businesses, plus despair in many Massachusetts homes.
Landlord Certification Test Ready
A landlord who takes and passes our test will contribute to renter wellbeing, be responsible when no one is looking and avoid problems – and receive recognition for their hard work, thanks to a nationwide first achieved by MassLandlords.
What Landlords Need from Boston’s Next Mayor
To solve Boston’s affordable housing crunch, landlords and our representatives like MassLandlords need a seat at the table. Like the local restaurants, we deserve to have input to address the post-pandemic recovery and lingering housing crisis.
Landlords Should Take RAFT. It’s the Law
A bill before the legislature would bring the eviction moratorium roaring back to Massachusetts, but if state officials enforced existing law, none of this nonsense would be necessary.
Multifamily Housing Providers Grapple with Heat Pump Retrofits
In our mission to create better, low-carbon rental housing, MassLandlords staff and members are evaluating heat pumps retrofits in multifamily properties. While heat pumps show promise, it’s not clear how and when housing providers should retrofit.
Landlord Certification Now Live, Searchable
The Certified Massachusetts Landlord is a nationwide first. And it can be a differentiator for housing providers statewide seeking good tenants. And it will be a differentiator for MassLandlords in our policy advocacy.
Six Things to Know About Evictions During COVID
MassLandlords has read and analyzed 3,984 cases filed between Oct. 19, when the state eviction moratorium lifted, and Dec. 18, 2020. This is what we found.
Eviction Moratorium Leaves Landlords, Renters in Uncertain Place
A federal eviction moratorium still applies to Massachusetts residential real estate, but now that the different state moratorium is over, what do we know about the impact of such a policy? At first glance, it looks to have been unnecessary or even harmful.
Ranked Choice Voting Is Good for Business
MassLandlords turned some heads earlier this spring when our board of directors endorsed Voter Choice for Massachusetts’ Ranked Choice Voting ballot initiative. Yes, we are pushing hard for an initiative that progressive anti-property zealots are supporting. No, we’re not wrong to do so.
Rent Control is Racist and Landlords Hate It
If we are serious about solving the housing crisis and systemic racism, we need to stop trying to pass a law that will make both worse.
