Eviction Moratorium and Tenant Rights: Video Info. Session

Video info sessions – know your rights as a tenant during the crisis!

View here:  Eviction Moratorium Video 5.6.2020

Ver video aquí: Información sobre la moratoria de desalojo

Thank you to Alan Minuskin and Ana Rivera from Boston College Law School for a virtual information session about the new moratorium on evictions.

1) Statewide eviction moratorium started 4/20 and will likely end 8/18 (unless extended). Will be whichever is shorter: 120 days from 4/20, or 6 weeks from end of state-proclaimed emergency. Gov. Baker has the right to extend it by 90-day “chunks” if warranted.

2) Landlords can not issue Notices to Quit during this time (but they can send a statement of how much rent is due).

3) Tenants should notify their landlord in writing, within 30 days of when rent is due, if they are not able to pay their rent due to Covid19. They should keep a copy of the letter for their records. If they do this, they can not be charged late fees.

4) Tenants should continue to pay whatever rent they can, if they can.

5) If you receive any type of notice from the landlord, keep it; it may be needed later in court as evidence of harassment.

6) If a tenant’s lease ends during the emergency, the landlord isn’t required to renew the lease, but is required to convert it to a month to month until the emergency ends.

7) Primary tenants who want to evict subtenants are considered similar to “landlords” by MA courts, so they can not evict tenants.

8) For a good summary of the moratorium, go to https://www.masslegalhelp.org/covid-19/housing https://www.masslegalhelp.org/health-mental-health/covid-19-illegal-eviction