Landlord's Legal Guide in Massachusetts, 3E » (REV)

Joseph P. DiBlasi has been an attorney in private practice since 1992. In addition to his other practice areas, he regularly represents and counsels residential and commercial real estate sellers, buyers, developers, investors, lenders, landlords, and tenants. As an enthusiastic advocate for those looking to pursue selling their own homes, DiBlasi, who is also a licensed Massachusetts Real Estate Broker, developed the concept of FSBO law and its Internet namesake, fsbolaw.com. This provides for-

#1 landlord guide in Massachusetts.

Using Self-Help Law Books -
Introduction -
Chapter 1: Laws that Govern Rental Property -
-Massachusetts Statutes
-Massachusetts Regulations
-Local Laws
-Federal Laws
-Legal Research
Chapter 2: Creating the Landlord/Tenant Relationship -
-Certificate of Occupancy
-Health Inspection and Certificate
-Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
-Lead Paint
-Application Process
-Discrimination
Chapter 3: Leases and Rental Agreements -
-Tenancy at Will
-Leases
-Rules and Regulations
-Options
-Forms
-Signatures
-Backing Out of a Lease
Chapter 4: Handling Deposits -
-Security Deposits
-Last Month’s Rent
-Deposits upon the Sale or Transfer of Property
Chapter 5: Responsibility for Maintenance -
-Landlord’s Duties and Tenant’s Rights
-Landlord’s Rights and Tenant’s Responsibilities
Chapter 6: Landlord Liabilities -
-Injuries on the Premises
-Protection from Liability for Injuries
-Crimes against Tenants
Chapter 7: Changing the Terms of the Tenancy -
-Assignment or Sublease by Tenant
-Sale of Property by Landlord
-Raising the Rent
-Modifying the Lease
Chapter 8: Problems During the Tenancy -
-Landlord’s Access to the Premises
-Violations by the Tenant
-Violations by the Landlord
-Destruction of the Premises
Chapter 9: Terminating a Tenancy -
-Landlord’s Termination of Residential Tenancy
-Landlord’s Termination of Commercial Tenancy
-Special Rules for Public Housing
-Death of a Tenant
-Options to Cancel
Chapter 10:Evicting a Tenant -
-Self-Help by Landlord
-Surrender or Abandonment
-Settling with the Tenant
-Using an Attorney
-Who Can Sue
-Summary Process Action
-Tenant’s Possible Defenses
-Tenant’s Counterclaims
-Commercial Tenant’s Defenses and Counterclaims
-Settlement
-Hearing
-Appeals
-Post-Judgment Motions
-Execution
-Tenant’s Bankruptcy
Chapter 11: Self-Service Storage Space-
-Rental Agreement
-Operator’s Lien
-Withholding Access
Chapter 12: Mobile Home Parks -
-Licensing and Registration
-Requirements and Restrictions
-Sale of the Tenant’s Mobile Home
-Termination of the Tenancy
Glossary -
Appendix A: Top 10 Ways to be
a Successful Landlord -1
Appendix B: Selected Massachusetts Statutes
and Regulations -
Appendix C: Highlights of the State
Sanitary Code -
Appendix D: Addresses of District and Housing Courts -
Appendix E: Eviction Process Sample Forms -
Appendix F: Blank Forms -
Index -