Wednesday, January 2, 2013
The new city ordinance requires all owners to register all rental units of more than six units.
A new Boston rental inspection ordinance will require all owners and landlords with more than six units to register in a citywide registry. Mayor Thomas Menino has pushed for the ordinance, which the city estimates will provide a proactive method for inspecting about 140,000 rental units, comprising more than 85 percent of Boston’s approximately 167,800 units. During the next five years, every unit under the ordinance will receive an approved inspection or be entered into an Inspectional Services-approved alternative compliance plan. More than 10 inspectors are expected to be hired, as the city plans on tackling units owned by landlords with a history of noncompliance in the first year of the program. The ordinance first had to be …
Friday, December 7, 2012
Boston leaders are looking to amend the city's rental ordinances and create a citywide database of all rental units.
Boston is looking to amend current rental ordinances to create a citywide registry of all rental apartments with regulations that mandate inspections every five years for rental properties of six family dwellings or more. Mayor Thomas Menino has pushed for the update to the city's rental ordinances, which the Boston City Council has discussed at public hearings and working sessions, and at Wednesday's council meeting. Important to note is that rental units of six family dwellings or fewer would be exempt from the inspections. But all owners of rental buildings would have to pay a one-time $25 fee, which District 6 City Councilor Matt O'Malley, and chair of the Committee on Government Operations, would go to funding the program. Said O'…
Monday, August 6, 2012
Boston City Councilors want a new tool to deal with problem tenants and property owners.
Frustrated with unruly tenants and absentee landlords, Boston City Councilor Sal LaMattina proposed fining property owners to hold them accountable. "This is an ongoing issue affecting the quality of life with loud apartments, roof decks. These are often your professionals and students," said LaMattina at Wednesday's Boston City Council meeting. LaMattina said property owners with repeat offenses would be identified to police. He suggested a $100 fine for the first offense; $300 for the second offense – and that the unruly person(s) as well as the landlord would be cited. However, he added that if the property owner proves he or she has worked with the police and local officials, they could have the fine revoked. LaMattina said he and …
Mariposa
12:15 pm on Friday, December 7, 2012
Go after the offenders - they already have something in place - if there are so many calls and complaints to ISD or to the police - the landlord is fined! But to organize this whole reigstry is invasive and unnecessary! more ›