Housing Court Tier 1 Status Conference: What You Need to Know

If you are a landlord bringing a summary process (eviction) case against a tenant in Massachusetts, the rules have changed. Previously, a landlord would send a Notice to Quit and, once it expired, would make legal “entry” to the apartment or tenement by serving and filing the Summons and Complaint with the local District or…

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Transferring Your Case to Housing Court from District Court

Massachusetts law allows a landlord to file in District Court as well as Housing Court. This is because Housing Court is a relatively “new” court that was initiated in the 1970s and 80s. The result was that certain areas, like the upper and lower Cape, were not covered by Housing Court jurisdiction, leaving the District…

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Top 5 Mistakes Tenants Make With Their Landlord

1. What Did You Sign? The most common mistake most tenants in Massachusetts make is foregoing legal representation during eviction cases.  The most common effect and pitfall there is signing an Agreement for Judgment in negotiation or mediation that signs away all the tenants’ rights  – often giving up tens of thousands in compensation because the…

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