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Updated about 15 years ago,
Fear of landlording after horror stories of professional tenants in pro tenant state MA
I would like to buy rental properties and be a landlord as there are plenty of great deals out there but in a pro tenant state like MA and having a few bad experiences with tenants and warnings from lawyers with horror stories, I am hesitant to go through. Some horror stories included tenants not paying rent and staying up to a year before being removed. Tenants would not pay rent, when you go through with the eviction process, they would call the city inspector, and the inspector would cite any and every small detail, no property is perfect but they’ll always find something as minor as it is to write you up. Tenants are allowed in MA to withhold the rent until repairs are made. Once you make repairs, they’ll mess it up and call the inspector again. And you can’t evict them because it would be retaliatory.
“If the landlord tries to raise the rent, terminate or otherwise change your tenancy within six months of when you contact the Board of Health, join a tenants’ organization, or exercise other legal rights, the landlord’s action will be considered retaliation against you, unless the landlord can prove otherwise. The landlord will have the burden to prove that your tenancy was changed for reasons other than your having exercised your rights (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18).â€
“The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that when a landlord fails to maintain a dwelling in habitable condition, a tenant may properly withhold a portion of the rent from the date the landlord has notice of this breach of warrant of habit-ability. Rent withholding can be a useful tool to force repairs, but it is a serious step and should be dealt with carefully. You may want to get legal advice before withholding your rent since the landlord may try to evict you for non-payment of rent.â€
Renting in low income housing makes sense as properties are cheap and could be profitable as long as you collect rent, the problem is finding employed tenants who pays rent. I don’t mind Section 8, don’t mind making repairs as long as they are reasonable but has anyone have experience renting in low income neighborhoods and has been successful? Anyone who have done it in a pro tenant state like MA? Any suggestions, tips, advice etc? Can you be successful in the rental business without losing your shirt?