Boston City Council Announces “Bad Landlords” Working Session Nov. 23
The Boston City Council’s Government Operations Committee announced it will review President Liz Breadon’s “bad landlords list” ordinance at a work session on November 23 at 10am. The ordinance proposes a public listing of “scofflaws”…
Read MoreTrump Executive Order Seeks to Ease Mortgage Burdens, Expand Manufactured Housing
Less than two weeks before the midterm elections, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) with measures to ease mortgage burdens amid rising rates. The EO directs the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to create…
Read MoreMA Spends $400K on Energy Study, But Doesn’t Release Its Findings
Commonwealth Beacon reported that the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (Mass CEC) commissioned a study on “innovative approaches to improve the electric distribution system” in 2021 but has yet to release the results it received in…
Read MoreBoston City Council Proposes “Bad Landlords List” Ordinance
Boston City Council President Liz Breadon (who represents Allston-Brighton) introduced a proposal for the city to publish a biannual “bad landlords list” of “scofflaws,” determined by a point system including code violations, inclusion on the…
Read MoreNAHB Survey: Confidence Falls as Rates, Costs Rise
For the 18th consecutive month, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) indicates a sentiment that market conditions for new housing development are “more poor than good.” The study cites supply-side…
Read MoreMA DOR Proposes Increases in Lead Paint Removal Tax Credits
The MA Department of Revenue (DOR) proposed a regulation implementing a statutory increase in lead paint removal tax credits. The regulation proposes increasing the maximum credit amount from $1,500 to $3,000, and from $500 to…
Read MoreMA Legislature Considers Tenant Option to Purchase Act (TOPA) Proposals
As described in a recent Commonwealth Beacon article, the MA General Court is considering Tenant Opportunity to Purchase (TOPA) policies in its economic development bills (S3228/H5576). The Senate version would allow up to 5 cities/towns…
Read MoreBoston, Chelsea Consider Ending Parking Minimums to Spur Housing Supply
In recent days, the Cities of Boston and Chelsea announced plans to discuss the elimination of minimum parking requirements in their respective zoning codes. These cities join Somerville and Cambridge, which removed such requirements in…
Read MoreMA AG Campbell Seeks Enforcement of Illegal Rental Fees
In a recent social media post, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell reminded renters of her office’s efforts to enforce restrictions on “illegal renters fees,” citing examples like lease renewal or roommate addition charges and recounting…
Read MoreCity of Somerville Rental Housing Sale Notice Requirement Effective Oct. 14, 2026
On October 14, 2026, the City of Somerville’s Rental Housing Sale Notice requirement takes effect. Any owner of rental housing who intends to sell the property must notify the tenant and the city’s Office…
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