With the rise of global temperatures, heat waves are becoming more commonplace. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “[h]eat waves are occurring more often than they used to in major cities across the United States. Their frequency has increased steadily, from an average of two heat waves per year during the 1960s to six per year during the 2010s and 2020s.” Not only that, but the duration of heat waves has also increased by an average of 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit. With these temperature increases in mind, what does this mean for Massachusetts landlords?
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How to Deal with Tenants Vaping or Smoking Marijuana
Though smoking has always been an issue for landlords, marijuana smoke has increasingly become an issue since the recreational use of marijuana became legal in Massachusetts, dispensaries became more prevalent, and even more people started using (or openly using) cannabis. Massachusetts landlords retain the right to regulate marijuana smoking or vaping within their properties.
What Can a Landlord Charge for a Pet?
In 2021, the Massachusetts Appeals Court issued a decision clarifying when a tenant can be charged more than rent due to a pet.
Put Those Cigarettes Out – Smoke-Free Housing in Massachusetts
Smoke-free housing policies offer numerous benefits for both residents and landlords. For residents, these policies provide a smoke-free living environment, reducing their exposure to secondhand smoke and the associated health risks.
Landlord’s Obligations to Accommodate Emotional Support Animals and Service Animals
An emotional support animal (ESA) is an animal that provides emotional support to a person with a disability just by its presence, no special training is needed. Both service animals and ESAs meet the definition of an assistance animal under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Landlords are obligated to make reasonable accommodations for tenants with ESAs or service animals.
Major Overhaul of the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code with New Requirements for Landlords
When the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) took effect on March 27, 2020 it had wide ranging implications for the healthcare system, it appropriated billions of dollars in economic aid, and it included a 120-day eviction moratorium as well as other provisions related to housing.
