An Act to promote housing stability
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill, An Act to promote housing stability, addresses the issue of landlords withholding rent. It aims to clarify and streamline the process for recovering withheld rent from tenants, ultimately seeking to improve housing stability for residents in Massachusetts. The bill seeks to establish clearer guidelines and procedures for handling disputes related to rent withholding.
Key provisions
- Establishes a process for landlords to formally notify tenants of withheld rent.
- Defines specific grounds for withholding rent.
- Outlines procedures for tenants to challenge withheld rent.
- Specifies timelines for landlords to pursue legal action to recover withheld rent.
- Requires courts to prioritize cases involving withheld rent.
- Addresses potential penalties for landlords who improperly withhold rent.
- Creates a mechanism for mediation in rent disputes.
Who is affected
- Landlords
- Tenants
- Housing Court
- Massachusetts Residents
- Legal Professionals
Notable changes
- The bill clarifies the circumstances under which a landlord can legally withhold rent.
- It establishes a formal process for tenants to dispute rent withholding claims.
- It may provide a framework for mediation to resolve disputes before they escalate to court.
Bill text
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Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
2 on record
Primary sponsor
Cosponsor
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