Rent Control Leaves Housing Advocates in a Bind
Housing advocates know a supply shortage is behind our runaway rents. But their two closest groups of allies sit on either side of the issue, and each see the debate in existential terms.
Letter to the Editor: Reviving Chapter 257 Will Imperil Small Landlords
Instead of extending outdated policies, as Banker & Tradesman called for in a recent editorial, we should increase housing production and create needs-based rental aid programs, where property owners receive the funds directly.
An Eviction Protection Real Estate Should Support
Massachusetts has a chance to make its eviction system a little more humane. Unfortunately, some landlords don’t want that to happen. The legislature should still move forward with the idea.
Apartment Inspection Blitz Raises City-Landlord Tensions
Boston’s ramp-up in apartment inspections to clear out a pandemic-era backlog is not sitting well with the always-vocal Small Property Owners Association.
Letter to the Editor: Don’t Sugarcoat the Bitter Truth About TOPA
The Small Property Owners Association disputes the TOPA Coalition’s duplicitous defense of TOPA as a “good housing policy” in its June 19 column in Banker & Tradesman.
Why Is Wu Excluding Vocal Opponents from Key Real Estate Panels?
In what looks to be an emerging trend, Boston’s mayor is leaning heavily on housing advocates for advice on highly-charged real estate issues, while excluding outspoken critics.
Landlord Groups Plead with Baker to Stop Jobs Bill
Massachusetts’ small-landlord trade groups have launched a push calling on Gov. Charlie Baker to reject the omnibus economic development bill passed in the early hours of Wednesday morning over provisions that would grant apartment tenants the right of first refusal if a landlord sought to sell the building.
Landlords Claim Exclusion From Code Conversation
Proposed changes to the Massachusetts Sanitary Code have local landlords running hot. They claim they were not consulted prior to the announcement of those changes, and that the changes are unclear and an unfair burden on rental property owners. Few people are familiar with the significance or contents of the state sanitary code, but a single violation of this code entitles tenants to withhold rent from landlords until the violation has been remedied.
Hundreds Gather At City Hall For Just Cause Eviction Hearing
Hundreds of people filled the Boston City Council...
