Landlords' Rights and Duties in Massachusetts, 2nd Edition

Venue:

Description:

Under Massachusetts law, if you do not follow the exact procedures required of landlords, you can be liable to tenants for thousands of dollars in damages and attorney's fees. Landlords' Rights & Duties in Massachusetts explains Massachusetts landlord/ tenant laws in simple language so you can protect your rights and your investment. This book thoroughly explains what to do and how to do it, with forms, flowcharts and examples from actual cases.

Complete with step-by-step instructions and the forms you need, this book can significantly reduce your costs and potential liability as a landlord.

It explains and gives guidelines for:

• Tenant's application
• Evictions
• Claims on security deposits
• Bad check notices
• Abandoned property rules
• Suits for back rent
• Pets
• Discrimination laws
• Maintenance rules
   

Table of Contents

Using Self-Help Law Books

Introduction

Chapter 1:

• Laws That Govern Rental Property
• Massachusetts Landlord/ Tenant Law
• Massachusetts Statutes
• Local Laws
• Federal Laws
• Doing Further Research

Chapter 2:

•  Creating the Landlord/Tenant Relationship
• Certificate of Occupancy
• Health Inspection and Certificate
• Lead Paint
• The Application Process
• Discrimination

Chapter 3:

• Leases and Rental Agreements
• Tenancy-at-Will
• Leases
• Rules and Regulations
• Options
• Forms
• Signatures
• Backing Out of a Lease

Chapter 4:

• Handling Security Deposits
• The Security Deposit
• Last Month’s Rent
• Deposits Upon the Sale or Transfer of the Property

Chapter 5:

• Responsibility for Maintenance
• The Landlord’s Duties and the Tenant’s Rights
• The Landlord’s Rights and the Tenant’s Responsibilities

Chapter 6:

• Landlord Liabilities
• Injuries on the Premises
• Protection from Liability for Injuries
• Crimes against Tenants
• Protection from Liability for Crimes
• Crimes by Tenants against Nontenants

Chapter 7:

• Changing the Terms of the Tenancy
• Assignment or Sublease by Tenant
• Sale of Property by Landlord
• Raising the Rent
• Modifying the Lease

Chapter 8:

• Problems During the Tenancy
• Landlord’s Access to the Premises
• Violations by the Tenant
• Violations by the Landlord
• Destruction of the Premises

Chapter 9:

• Terminating a Tenancy
• Early Termination of Residential Tenancy by Landlord
• Early Termination by Tenant
• Early Termination of Nonresidential Tenancy by Landlord
• Special Rules for Public Housing
• Death of Tenant
• Options to Cancel

Chapter 10:

• Evicting a Tenant
• Self-Help by Landlord
• Surrender or Abandonment
• Settling with the Tenant
• Using an Attorney
• Who Can Sue?
• The Summary Process Action
• Tenant’s Possible Defenses
• Tenant’s Counterclaims
• The Commercial Tenant’s
• Defenses and Counterclaims
• Settlement
• The Hearing
• Post Judgment Motions,
• Appeals, and the Execution
• Tenant’s Bankruptcy
• Satisfaction of Judgment
• Eviction Flow Chart

Chapter 11:

• Self Service Storage Space
• Rental Agreement
• The Operator’s Lien
• Withholding Access

Chapter 12:

• Mobile Home Parks
• Licensing and Registration
• Requirements and Restrictions
• Termination of the Tenancy

Appendix A:

• Selected Massachusetts Statutes

Appendix B:

• Highlights of State Sanitary Code

Appendix C:

• Addresses of District Courts

Appendix D:

• Forms

Index