Providing Services and Information to Massachusetts Landlords
SUMMARY AND MY COMMENTS: Eric Halbach was badly injured when he fell as a result of uneven pavement on a public sidewalk adjacent to a commercial building owned by a RE company. The Appellate Court ruled that the business Continue reading 2016 Halbach vs Normandy Real Estate (Landlords not responsible for sidewalk injuries)
Recently I had a tenant who signed an Agreement to leave by a specific date but failed to do so even though per the Agreement he was not required to pay rent for 3 months while he was looking for Continue reading Open Letter to the Chief Justice of MA Housing Court
SUMMARY This case just came out of the SJC and it’s about sprinklers and even though it’s a step in the right direction, it is, in my opinion, still unclear when we are required to install sprinklers. “We conclude that, Continue reading 2016 MacLaurin vs City of Holyoke (sprinklers can only be required if rehab so substantial that renders existing structure as good as new construction)
MY COMMENTS: This case was turned into a big deal by http://massrealestatelawblog.com and the Landlord Association at http://masslandlords.net. That association even asked a lawyer to write a “friend of the court” brief where they argued that Security Deposit violations are only counterclaims (for Continue reading 2016 Meikle v. Nurse (Landlords cannot evict a tenant unless they have followed the Security Deposit law 100% to the letter)
MY COMMENTS Last week the Appellate Court reversed a decision where the Western Housing Court judge Robert Fields awarded multiple times 3 rents in Quiet Enjoyment cases. He knew or should have known that was abusive but over there at Continue reading 2016 Clark vs Treasure Woods Estates – Max of one triple rent award per lawsuit about Quiet Enjoyment
Landlords in MA are lame, lame, lame. There, I said it! At least I can’t be accused of being not fair and balanced, right? (: Recently this site celebrated its 3rd anniversary and I have to say in 3 years Continue reading No More Advocacy
Banks in MA need further regulating especially banks making “commercial” loans on building that are bigger than 4-family. Multi-family foreclosures were the leading reason for the Recession. Banks have a lot to do with it. At the end of this Continue reading Banks Are Back To Their Old Tricks. MA Needs To Better Regulate Them.
Most of my tenants are great people and I rarely go to court but occasionally I get a tenant from hell who is so retaliatory and so ballsy and brazen that they really get my cage rattled. Meet Shannon Michelle Continue reading Don’t Evict Me! I Am Not Responsible for The Frozen Pipes Because Water Freezes At 42F!
Two or three times a year I complain against people in writing. I see it as my right and an obligation as a citizen. I have already filed 2 complaints this year (one against this mediator and one against a Continue reading A Complaint Against A Housing Court Mediator
The Supreme Judicial Court of MA has been asking the Legislature to give courts more money for awhile now and so they created a “Commission on Access to Justice”. Out of the 25 people sitting on this “commission”, according to Continue reading Ask Your Legislator to Lower Evictions by Supporting The Mandatory Escrow Bills