93A, Consumer Protection, Evictions, Housing Court, Landlord, Landlord Tenant, Litigation, Nonpayment of Rent, Notice to Quit, Security Deposit, Summary Process, Tenant, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment on Returning A Security Deposit When The Landlord Has Violated The Security Deposit Act Prior to Evicting the Tenant

Returning A Security Deposit When The Landlord Has Violated The Security Deposit Act Prior to Evicting the Tenant

By Robert Nislick   You are a Massachusetts landlord. When you leased your premises, you took a security deposit from your tenant. Unfortunately, you did not comply with the very strict requirements set forth in the Security Deposit Act. Perhaps, for example, you failed to deposit the funds in a separate, interest-bearing account in aContinue reading Returning A Security Deposit When The Landlord Has Violated The Security Deposit Act Prior to Evicting the Tenant

Consumer Protection, Evictions, Housing Court, Landlord Tenant, Security Deposit, Uncategorized | 1 Comment on But If You Do – Things to Remember When Taking a Security Deposit in Massachusetts

But If You Do – Things to Remember When Taking a Security Deposit in Massachusetts

By Robert Nislick You are a Massachusetts landlord. A new tenant is about to lease your house or apartment from you. You would like to take a security deposit from this person. Allow me to talk you out of it. Read my companion article, “Don’t Do It – The Case Against Taking a Security DepositContinue reading But If You Do – Things to Remember When Taking a Security Deposit in Massachusetts

Consumer Protection, Evictions, Housing Court, Landlord Tenant, Security Deposit, Summary Process, Uncategorized | 3 Comments on Don’t Do It – The Case Against Taking a Security Deposit in Massachusetts

Don’t Do It – The Case Against Taking a Security Deposit in Massachusetts

By Robert Nislick You are a Massachusetts landlord. A new tenant is about to lease your house or apartment from you. You would like to take a security deposit from this person. In the event that the tenant damages the property or fails to pay rent, the idea of having a security deposit available toContinue reading Don’t Do It – The Case Against Taking a Security Deposit in Massachusetts

Evictions, Housing Court, Landlord, Landlord Tenant, Summary Process | Leave a Comment on Late Fees in Massachusetts Residential Leases

Late Fees in Massachusetts Residential Leases

You are a Massachusetts landlord. You are leasing an apartment to a tenant. In the event that the tenant pays rent late, you want to be able to collect a late fee from him or her. Can the landlord impose a late fee against a tenant who pays rent late? “No lease or other rentalContinue reading Late Fees in Massachusetts Residential Leases

93A, Housing Court, Landlord Tenant, Summary Process | Leave a Comment on Can the Landlord Enter the Tenant’s Apartment

Can the Landlord Enter the Tenant’s Apartment

By Robert Nislick Massachusetts landlords frequently ask whether they can enter their tenant’s rental unit during the term of the lease. The landlord may have many valid reasons for wanting to enter the apartment. Oftentimes, a tenant’s lease will be up soon, the landlord has decided not to renew the lease, and the landlord wantsContinue reading Can the Landlord Enter the Tenant’s Apartment