Blog

Navigating the Two-Year Waiting Period on Unfavorable Special Permit and Variance Applications in Under the Massachusetts Zoning Act

By Robert Nislick You are a Massachusetts landowner and would like to develop or improve your property. You have applied or appealed to your town’s zoning board of appeals for a special permit or variance. The ZBA has denied your requests for zoning relief. You may have considered appealing the decision to the Land CourtContinue reading Navigating the Two-Year Waiting Period on Unfavorable Special Permit and Variance Applications in Under the Massachusetts Zoning Act

Audio Recording of Condominium and Tenant Meetings in Massachusetts

By Robert Nislick You are a condominium trustee or unit owner in Massachusetts. Similarly, you may be a landlord or a tenant. A meeting is scheduled and you would like to record it. It is possible that a condominium trustee might want a recording so that he can prepare a set of meeting minutes. Let’sContinue reading Audio Recording of Condominium and Tenant Meetings in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Local Counsel Available for Businesses, Individuals, and Attorneys

By Robert Nislick If you are businessperson with a corporate dispute in Massachusetts but you are headquartered outside of the Bay State, or you own real estate or a rental property in the Commonwealth but live elsewhere, or you are an attorney for a company that has just been sued in Massachusetts, you may needContinue reading Massachusetts Local Counsel Available for Businesses, Individuals, and Attorneys

Fourteen Days Notice to Quit For Nonpayment of Rent in Massachusetts

By Robert Nislick You are a Massachusetts landlord. Your tenant is not paying rent. You want to evict him. What can you do to get the eviction process started? Most landlords know that before you can evict a tenant for nonpayment of rent, the landlord must serve, and the tenant must receive, a fourteen-day noticeContinue reading Fourteen Days Notice to Quit For Nonpayment of Rent in Massachusetts

Framingham Landlords Must Obtain Inspection and Certification of Rental Units

By Robert Nislick Pursuant to the Framingham Health Department’s Rental Unit Certification Regulation, most landlords of residential properties in Framingham are required to apply for and obtain a certificate from the Board of Health before commencing any new tenancy or occupancy in a rental unit. The regulation is, “intended to protect the public health andContinue reading Framingham Landlords Must Obtain Inspection and Certification of Rental Units

Landlord and Tenant Issues Related to The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act

By Robert Nislick On Election Day 2016, Massachusetts voters approved Question 4, and passed The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act. One purpose of the act is to “make marijuana legal for adults 21 years of age or older”. See Act, § 1. The act will take effect on December 15, 2016. See Act, §Continue reading Landlord and Tenant Issues Related to The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act

The Surveyor’s Right to Enter Land in Massachusetts

By Robert Nislick You are a landowner in Massachusetts. Suppose that you are in the midst of a dispute with your neighbor concerning your boundary line. Perhaps your neighbor’s shed encroaches on your property. Maybe you have fenced your neighbor off from his land for more than twenty years, and you are contemplating filing anContinue reading The Surveyor’s Right to Enter Land in Massachusetts

Obtaining a Variance or Special Permit in Massachusetts

By Robert Nislick You are a landowner in Massachusetts. You have a project in mind for improving your property. Perhaps you would like to build an addition to your home. For example, Alison wants to bump the front door out so it is a little closer to the street, and build a nice new entryway,Continue reading Obtaining a Variance or Special Permit in Massachusetts

Stays of Execution in Massachusetts Landlord and Tenant Cases

By Robert Nislick You are a Massachusetts landlord and you are trying to evict your tenants. You have already terminated their tenancy, served them with a summons and complaint, entered the case in the Housing Court or District Court, and appeared on the day of trial. You tried your case and the court found thatContinue reading Stays of Execution in Massachusetts Landlord and Tenant Cases

Trustees’ Responsibilities and Unit Owners’ Right of Access to Condominium Books and Records in Massachusetts

By Robert Nislick When a dispute starts to arise between and a unit owner and a board of condominium trustees, the unit owner may ask to review the financial records of the condominium. The unit owner may suspect that the trustees are expending money wastefully or improperly. What records must the condominium trustees maintain? WhatContinue reading Trustees’ Responsibilities and Unit Owners’ Right of Access to Condominium Books and Records in Massachusetts