New Data Shows Boston Homeowners Face Smaller Tax Increase
A Boston senator delayed action on a controversial home rule petition for the second time this week, pushing consideration off after new data emerged about the city’s property tax outlook.
Senate Must Act by Monday on Tax Rate Deal, Boston Says
Boston City Hall’s assessing chief on Tuesday voiced an ever-tightening timeline for Beacon Hill to act on the city’s property tax plan, while also declining to share data that some skeptical officials have said could be key to moving the needle on the controversial bill.
Boston Tax Bill Delayed Amid Fears Towns Could Copy City’s Ask
A senator from South Boston delayed action Monday on a controversial, time-sensitive Boston property tax reclassification bill, which is now on ice until after the deadline for action recommended by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
House Vote Sends Boston Tax Bill to Senate
The House of Representatives on Monday approved the city of Boston’s request to temporarily reconfigure the way it splits property taxes between commercial and residential taxpayers.
Notable Biz Groups Absent from Deal on Boston Tax Rate Hikes
Next time it may not be so easy for Boston’s mayor. And given current market trends, not only will there almost certainly be a next time, and it won’t be long in coming, either.
City Council Backs Boston Property Tax Deal
The deal between Mayor Michelle Wu and four business groups will see commercial property tax rates rise, but not by as much as previously feared.
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Instead of extending outdated policies, as Banker & Tradesman called for in a recent editorial, we should increase housing production and create needs-based rental aid programs, where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...
