TOPA Is Good Housing Policy

Misinformation has been spreading about what the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act would do. Here are the facts, and the many places it’s been refined with real estate industry feedback.

A file photo of the Massachusetts State House

New Tenant Right-to-Purchase Bill Heard on Beacon Hill

After Gov. Charlie Baker vetoed the state legislature’s previous attempt last year to guarantee apartment tenants the right to purchase the building they’re living in, senators and representatives are back with a revised bill they say addresses some industry concerns.

Supreme Court Kills Eviction Moratorium

The Supreme Court’s conservative majority is allowing evictions to resume across the United States, blocking the Biden administration from enforcing a temporary ban that was put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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. 

Pledges Patch, Don’t Solve Eviction Crisis

Last week bought more welcome news from the multifamily sector, as another group of large landlords declared they would work with tenants behind on rent to avoid evictions. But don’t confuse them with anything more than a band-aid.

War on Vacancies Heats Up

Retail has been the weak link in Greater Boston’s commercial real estate boom, and one that’s attracting increased scrutiny from municipalities because of vacant storefronts’ tendency to sap vibrancy and spread blight.

The Importance Of Recordkeeping

Many commercial leases provide for automatic extension of the term unless one party notifies the other in writing within a certain timeframe that it desires not to extend the lease term – but what constitutes “a certain timeframe” can be a matter of debate.