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Your success as a Landlord depends on knowing and complying with the many Massachusetts laws that affect your property rental business.
Here are some tips on avoiding costly mistakes and the key legal problems facing landlords in Massachusetts. 1. Follow Massachusetts' strict laws and procedures when: raising rent, evicting a tenant, or any other change in a tenancy. 2. Avoid Massachusetts Security Deposit law violations. 3. Provide Habitable Housing in compliance with the state sanitary code. 4. Follow Exact Procedures for Terminating a Tenancy or Evicting a Tenant. 5. Always use a written lease or Rental Agreement drafted by a Massachusetts attorney (avoid "boxed" leases that often are not specific to Massachusetts law). 6. Make all required disclosures under Massachusetts law. 7. Don't Retaliate Against a Tenant Who Exercises a Legal Right. 8. Beware that many provisions of Massachusetts Landlord/Tenant law provide for the Tenant: three times the damages, plus costs, and an award of attorney's fees (Many lawyers work without a charge of upfront fees to the Tenant). 9. Consult with an experienced Landlord/Tenant Lawyer at the earliest possible time. 10. Know the tips the Tenant is being given. |
Your success as a Tenant depends on knowing your rights and the procedures to follow when you have a dispute with your Landlord.
Here are some tips on avoiding costly mistakes and how to enforce your rights under Massachusetts law. 1. Know the Massachusetts Landlord/Tenant laws that apply to your residential tenancy: (at will, sufferance, or by lease). 2. Rights under the Massachusetts Security Deposit law. 3. Entitlement to withhold rent for violation of the warranty of Habitability in violation of the state sanitary code. 4. Defenses/Protections against: terminating your tenancy/Eviction. 5. Always know what is in your lease or Rental Agreement and what rights you have under Massachusetts law. 6. Make all complaints or demands in writing, sent certified mail, return, receipt, requested. 7. Know the best way to exercise your legal rights. 8. Be aware that many provisions of Massachusetts Landlord/Tenant law provide for the Tenant: three times the damages, plus costs, and an award of attorney's fees (Many lawyers work without a charge of upfront fees to the Tenant). 9. Consult with an experienced Landlord/Tenant Lawyer at the earliest possible time. 10. Know the tips the Landlord is being given. |