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Resources for Landlords

We help small landlords resolve conflicts with tenants including unpaid rent, potential eviction and other disputes.

We provide individual support to Boston landlords with six or fewer units. The goal is to help small landlords who face issues with low- to moderate-income or vulnerable tenants. Counseling services can:

  • inform landlords of their rights and responsibilities
  • find resources and solutions to stabilize landlords and vulnerable tenants
  • coach landlords on best practices, and
  • troubleshoot and solve tenant disputes.

Property owner information

Property owner information

Learn more about your rights and responsibilities as a landlord.  Be informed.     

Discuss best practices for:

  • screening and selecting tenants
  • entering and terminating lease agreements
  • maintaining records
  • handling repairs and maintenance, and
  • dealing with conflict and eviction. 

Take advantage of the collective wisdom gained from decades of working with landlords.

Find time-saving and cost-saving solutions to help preserve tenancies and stabilize ownership, whenever possible.

Get tools to help communicate and build relationships with your tenants.  Positive communication can help prevent and resolve disputes. 

Discover resources for landlords. Being a landlord is a lot of work and can be difficult. You're not alone. The City and state offer programs that support landlords. There also are local trade associations and nonprofits serving landlords large and small. 

YOUR RIGHTS 

You have the right to perform a background check.  The background check can be used to ensure a future tenant can meet tenant obligations. This includes paying rent and following lease terms.  The background check must not be used to unlawfully screen out tenants.

You can request first month's rent, last month's rent, a security deposit, and a lock change fee at the start of a tenancy.  Be sure to properly handle these fees. 

You have the right to enforce lease and property rules.

You have the right to timely rent payments.  You may charge a late fee only if there is a written agreement. This fee cannot be charged unless the rent is at least 30 days late.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

You must provide a safe and sanitary living space. This means the apartment must have adequate heat, hot water, plumbing, and exits. The apartment must also have a stove, kitchen, locks, and smoke detectors. There should be no pests or water leaks.

You must follow a legal process to evict a tenant.  You cannot lock out a tenant without a court order.  You cannot force a tenant out by shutting off the utilities.

You must post contact information in the building.

You must register your rental units with the Inspectional Services Department. Rental units must be inspected at least once every five years (except in one- to six-unit, owner-occupied buildings).

The Housing Stability Notification Act requires landlords to notify tenants of their rights, and provide information about specific resources, if they are planning to serve a notice to quit, or otherwise ending a lease.  

Housing Stability Notification Act

 

All landlords must meet all regulations regarding security deposits, code violations, and safety hazards. Failure to do so may hinder your ability to complete an eviction and could give tenants grounds to have withheld rent.

Learn more about tenant rights

 

Landlords must follow a specific procedure to pursue an eviction. Only a judge can issue an eviction.

  • Landlord serves tenant a notice to quit along with informing them of their rights via the Housing Stability Notification Act.
  • Landlord initiates a court case.
  • The tenant responds to the case including possible counterclaims.
  • The notice to quit is either resolved through dispute mediation, dismissed, or proceeds to trial.
  • If the tenant loses the trial the judge will issue an execution and give notice of the move out date.
  • For more information about the eviction process, visit this page.
Need counseling services?
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Contact the Office of Housing Stability to set up a counseling session.
Contact the Office of Housing Stability

Upcoming legal clinics

Downtown, Chinatown, Leather District Liaison Office Hours
On Sep 16

Sep 16
CANCELED: St. Botolph Area Architectural Conservation District Commission
On Sep 16

Sep 16
Parks Fitness: BCBS Line Dancing with Angela
On Sep 16

Sep 16
Dorchester: 1448 Dorchester Avenue Abutters Meeting
On Sep 16

Sep 16
Roslindale: 19 Rexhame Street Abutters Meeting
On Sep 16

Sep 16
Boston CSRM: Charlestown Comment Workshop
On Sep 16

Sep 16

Who's Involved:

Housing
617-635-3880
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