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…
Read moreMassachusetts Residential Security Deposit Law (3x Deposit) – M.G.L. c.186 s.15B
When moving into an apartment or rental in Massachusetts, the landlord is limited to charging a First Month’s Rent, Last Month’s Rent, Security Deposit, and a one-time reasonable lock and key charge. That’s it and the Last and Security cannot exceed the monthly rent. The Massachusetts Security Deposit Law is renowned for its triple-damages clause…
Read moreFAQ: Massachusetts Landlord-Tenant Questions Answered
Q: What is a Summary Process case? A: It’s the same thing as an eviction case in Massachusetts. It’s the only way to get a tenant out in Massachusetts. Self help evictions are illegal. Q; What is a Notice to Quit? A: A notice to quit is a carryover from English common law – which…
Read moreShivick’s Appellate Work Has Lasting Consequences: Massachusetts Debt Collection, Unauthorized Practice of Law, and Landlord Collection Abuse: A 2026 Update
Some businesses do not merely bend the rules. They build a business model around hoping consumers and tenants do not know the rules exist. That is especially true in the overlap between landlord-tenant law, debt collection, and Housing Court. A landlord obtains or claims a debt. A property manager tries to prosecute a case. A…
Read moreMA Pet Deposits: Tenant Rights Under Massachusetts Law
Attorney Shivick discusses Msssachusetts Law regarding M.G.L. c.186 s.15B(1)(b) and Pet Deposits: Tenant Rights Under Massachusetts Law. Nothing in this video is intended as a substitute for consulting with an attorney. Nothing in this video is to be construed as legal advice.
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