Housing Discrimination

Massachusetts Housing Court And Tenant Eviction History Now Online

by Rich Vetstein 04.24.2013 Housing Court

New Online System Enables Landlords To Screen Tenants for Prior Evictions/Problems After years of lobbying from rental housing groups, the Massachusetts Housing Court has finally announced a powerful new and free tool for tenant screening:  public internet access to all Summary Process, Small Claims, Civil and Supplementary Process case types. Case information can be accessed [...]

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Boston Area Landlord Hit With $75,000 Penalty Over Lead Paint Violations

by Rich Vetstein 03.16.2013 Disclosures

Largest Lead Paint Penalty On Record for Attorney General Coakley Landlords with lead paint beware…enforcement of the state’s strict Lead Paint Law remains a priority for Attorney General Coakley’s office. The AG just hit a Boston area property owner with the largest fine on record — $75,000 — and ordered him to de-lead his rental [...]

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New Massachusetts Domestic Violence Law Allows Victims To Break Leases, Have Locks Changed

by Rich Vetstein 01.12.2013 Condominium Law

Under the new Massachusetts Domestic Violence Act recently signed into law, victims of sexual assault and stalking have the right to break their leases without significant financial penalty, have the landlord change their locks, and other important protections. The important provisions of the new law are as follows: In order to break a lease, victims [...]

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Massachusetts Landlords Smoking Mad About New Medicinal Marijuana Law

by Rich Vetstein 11.10.2012 Housing Discrimination

Concern Over 60 Day Supply Provision & Federal Ban On Pot Burned up Massachusetts landlords are fuming with concern over the state’s newly passed but hazy medicinal marijuana law. The law — rolling out Jan. 1 — grants medical marijuana users the right to grow a two-month supply of weed at home if they cannot get [...]

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Worcester Catholic Church Pulled Out of Mansion Sale To Prevent Gay Marriages, Lawsuit Says

by Rich Vetstein 09.10.2012 Condominium Law

Worcester Diocese Allegedly Pulled Out of Deal Over Possibility Of Gay Marriages at Mansion James Fairbanks and Alain Beret, married business partners from Sutton, had been searching for the perfect property for nearly two years when they discovered Oakhurst, an aging mansion on 26 beautiful acres in Northbridge. The former retreat center, which was affiliated [...]

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The Renters Are Back! Questions You Can and Cannot Ask Prospective Tenants In Massachusetts

by Rich Vetstein 08.30.2012 Housing Discrimination

School is back and summer is over. September 1 and the start of the new rental cycle is right around the corner. It’s time to review my best practices to get trouble-free, paying tenants in your Massachusetts rental property. Screening Prospective Massachusetts Renters: What You Can and Cannot Ask Landlords can legally ask prospective renters [...]

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The Pregnant Woman, The Newest Lending Credit Risk: Discrimination or Fair Lending?

by Rich Vetstein 08.10.2010 Housing Discrimination
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By Karen Rabinovici, UConn Law ’12 It seems more outdated than hair scrunchies, something we witnessed years ago: discrimination against pregnant women seeking mortgage loans. Apparently it’s still going on and worse than ever which is why the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is investigating numerous cases of alleged pregnancy discrimination in [...]

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The Students Are Coming, The Students Are Coming! A Mini-Review Of Massachusetts Landlord Tenant Rental Law, Part 1.

by Rich Vetstein 07.20.2010 Housing Discrimination
Thumbnail image for The Students Are Coming, The Students Are Coming! A Mini-Review Of Massachusetts Landlord Tenant Rental Law, Part 1.

In a few weeks, the *quiet* streets of Allston, Brighton, Cambridge, Boston and other Massachusetts tenant friendly cities will turn into the zoo that is known as student moving week. So it’s time to review frequently asked questions for Massachusetts landlord tenant rental law. Screening Prospective Tenants Landlords can legally ask about a tenant’s income, [...]

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Massachusetts Landlords And Realtors Settle Discriminatory Housing Practices With Attorney General

by Rich Vetstein 10.29.2009 Housing Discrimination
Thumbnail image for Massachusetts Landlords And Realtors Settle Discriminatory Housing Practices With Attorney General

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley today announced that her office has settled 20 cases against landlords and real estate agents accused of violating state anti-discrimination laws across Massachusetts. The companies allegedly made discriminatory statements in online rental advertisements on Craigslist.org which stated “no children” or “no Section 8.” Section 8 is a rental subsidy program [...]

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Massachusetts Landlord Tenant Law: A Legal Refresher Course For Landlords

by Rich Vetstein 07.28.2009 Housing Discrimination
Massachusetts landlord tenant law

With the impending influx of renters and students invading the Greater Boston area soon, let’s review some often asked questions concerning Massachusetts landlord tenant law to assist landlords in navigating the rental process. Screening Prospective Tenants: What You Can and Cannot Ask? Landlords can legally ask about a tenant’s income, current employment, prior landlord references, [...]

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