Read Our Latest Updates

Pro-Housing Budget Proposal and Pandemic Policy Extensions

Its been an eventful week for MAR’s advocacy priorities, from extending key pandemic policies to the first steps in the FY2023 budget. Going Remote. One week after the House passed its version of the latest pandemic…

State Announces Rental Assistance Changes

The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) announced some impending policy changes for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and the Residential Assistance for Families…

Court Strikes Down Boston Eviction Moratorium

The Boston eviction moratorium, enacted on August 31, 2021, five days after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal eviction moratorium, was struck down by a Massachusetts Housing Court judge yesterday…

Local Mask Mandates

As the Delta variant continues to cause COVID-19 cases, some Massachusetts cities and towns are implementing their own mask requirements for public indoor spaces. It’s a good idea to check the various communities you work in before hosting or attending an open house.

Local MA Eviction Moratoriums

On August 31, the City of Boston joined the cities of Somerville and Malden in issuing its own local eviction moratorium. All three local moratoriums go beyond the now terminated CDC moratorium, prohibiting serving notice on residents regardless of COVID impacts…

Notes from the Legal Hotline: September 2021

Q: May a landlord use COVID vaccination status in screening prospective tenants? A: While vaccination status itself is not a protected class, the reason an individual is unvaccinated may be because of a protected characteristic…

Supreme Court Ends CDC Eviction Moratorium

On August 26th, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion lifting the CDC moratorium that had recently been extended to October 3rd. The Supreme Court reasoned that the CDC lacked authority to issue the moratorium…

Eviction Moratorium Extension Update

On August 3rd, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extended the federal eviction moratorium until October 3rd. The extension included one significant change — the moratorium now applies…

New Law Changes Eviction Process

On June 16, 2021, the Governor signed a COVID-19 policy extension bill into law. The new law continues and, over time, scales back some key provisions related to the eviction process that was first put in place on December 31, 2020…

May 17 Reopening Announcement

On May 17, 2021, the Baker-Polito Administration announced the final stage of reopening Massachusetts. As of May 29, 2021, all industry restrictions and capacity limitations will be rescinded. The Department…