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1. How do get my landlord to make repairs?

All tenants have the right to live in a safe and decent place. If your landlord knows about a dangerous or unhealthy problem in your apartment or building, and they do not fix it, they are breaking the law.  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts holds minimum standards for human habitation. Read more here. 

If a landlord does not respond to a tenant’s complaints about a Sanitary Code violation, the tenant may request that a code enforcement officer or the local board of health inspect the apartment. An inspector can then come to the apartment, review the conditions, and order the landlord to fix the problem if necessary. In the event that the landlord still fails to fix the problem, a tenant may be able to withhold a portion of the rent or move out, even if there is a lease or rental agreement in place. However, before either withholding rent or moving out, tenants considering these options should contact a private lawyer or legal services for more information and advice. 

You can reach out to the Beverly Board of Health here: (978) 921-8591.

For more information about the State Sanitary Code, you can call the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Citizen Information Service hotline at 617-727-7030 or 1-800-392-6090 (in MA only). 

2. How do I document bad conditions in my home and request repairs from my landlord?

• A certified inspection report from the Board of Health
• Photographs or videotapes of the conditions. 

Get help documenting bad conditions in your home here: https://madeuptocode.org/

3. My landlord is increasing my rent. What can I do?

In Massachusetts, landlords of private, unsubsidized housing can ask for as much rent as they want. They do not have to adjust the rent to an amount you can afford. 

Your landlord can only raise the rent if they give you proper notice. A new landlord must accept your old rent until the new landlord gives you proper notice. Proper notice says your current tenancy is ending and offers you a new tenancy at a higher rent. The notice can be 1 document or 2 separate documents. 

• If you have a lease, your landlord must give you notice that ends your tenancy before the lease renews or extends. This is a “notice to quit.” If your lease has no special instructions about notices, your landlord does not have to give you a separate notice to quit. Your lease tells you when your tenancy ends. 
• If you not do have a lease, a landlord must give you at least 30 days’ advance written notice to end your tenancy. 

Your landlord must not raise your rent if: 

• You do not agree to the rent increase. 
• You have a written rental agreement that has not ended. Usually, rent cannot be raised during the lease period. 
• You have a Section 8 voucher, and the housing agency has not approved the increase, or you did not agree to accept an approved rent increase. 
• The increase is to get back at you for doing something like reporting bad conditions or joining a tenant organization. This is called “retaliation.”
•  You did not get proper advance notice 

Read more here.

Get legal help at Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder here: https://masslrf.org/en/triage/info

4. I'm behind on rent and facing eviction. How can I get help?

Help paying your rent

Are you having trouble paying your rent, mortgage or utility bills? Have you lost your job or lost income? Are you at risk of becoming homeless? 

You may be eligible to receive help with paying your rent, mortgage or utility bills. Massachusetts offers emergency housing payment assistance administered through regional agencies that can assist low-income renters, homeowners, and landlords. Renters and landlords can access the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program, which can cover utilities, moving costs, and overdue rent costs, as well as future rent in limited situations. Homeowners may be eligible to receive assistance through the Homeowners Assistance Fund (HAF). Learn more about HAF here. 

Access to Free Legal Help

Regional legal aid programs assist low-income tenants with referrals, legal information, and legal representation for  evictions statewide. Please see https://www.mass.gov/info-details/eviction-diversion-initiative-legal-services-and-mediation for more information. 

A lawyer can advise you about the law, refer you to resources, fill out and file court papers, and represent you. A lawyer can help advise you before a case gets to court or if a case is in court. The earlier you contact a lawyer the better. 

Mediation between you and your Landlord

Massachusetts Community Mediation Centers are offering free pre-court mediation between landlords and tenants for lease disputes in addition to the summary process cases referred through the courts. 

Mediation is a confidential, voluntary and non-judgmental process where a neutral third party (the mediator) helps people resolve differences based on what is important to them. 

Beverly's local mediation center is: 

THE RESOLUTION CENTER (FORMERLY NORTH SHORE COMMUNITY MEDIATION, INC) 

Serving Essex County

100 Cummings Center Suite 307J   |   (978) 232-1212