Actual legislation, signed bills, and news coverage — the laws and changes affecting property owners, investors, and tenants across Greater Boston.
Real legislation and original news sources — not summaries of summaries. Click through to read the full story.
Bill H.336, effective August 1, 2025, makes it illegal for landlords to pass broker fees to tenants when the landlord hired the broker. The law also bans dual agency — brokers can no longer represent both sides — and prevents leases from being signed more than three months before the start date. The Boston Globe's coverage explains what the change means in practice for Boston-area renters and owners.
Read the Full Story →GBH breaks down the most common questions about the new broker fee law — who owes what when both parties have brokers, how enforcement works, and what landlords need to update in their leasing process. Practical and clear-eyed reporting on the new rules.
Read the Full Story →Governor Healey signed Chapter 150 of the Acts of 2024 — the largest housing investment in Massachusetts history at $5.16 billion. The act funds production and rehabilitation of more than 65,000 homes, legalizes by-right ADUs in single-family zones statewide, enables eviction record sealing, and updates tenant protections. This is the full official session law.
Read the Full Story →As of February 2, 2025, Massachusetts homeowners can build an Accessory Dwelling Unit up to 900 sq. ft. without a special permit or zoning board hearing — in any single-family zone statewide. This applies to basement conversions, attached additions, and detached backyard cottages. Towns cannot impose owner-occupancy requirements or block ADUs from being rented long-term.
Read the Full Story →Effective May 5, 2025, tenants can petition to seal eviction records when cases were dismissed, decided in their favor, or resolved by satisfied judgment. Once sealed, those records disappear from public databases and cannot be used in tenant screening. The Boston Bar Association walks through eligibility, process, and what landlords are and aren't allowed to access under the new rules.
Read the Full Story →The Massachusetts SJC upheld the MBTA Communities Act in early 2025, ruling communities served by the T must zone for multifamily housing near transit. Attorney General Campbell has since sued nine non-compliant towns including Dracut, Marblehead, Tewksbury, and Wilmington. Over 170 Greater Boston municipalities are subject to the law — reshaping where and what can be built across the suburbs.
Read the Full Story →Whether it's a question about property management, a renovation project, or Massachusetts law — reach out. We respond within 24 hours, always from an owner.
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