And the fun begins rent control comes to Massachusetts!

[justoffal]

As a veteran landlord of a good number of rental units I can tell you this is a terrible idea.

I go out of my way to make sure my tenants are not oppressed by what I charge. At the same time I have to face increasing expenses from the insurance companies, the municipalities and the tax man.

I'm in a good position debt-wise.... Landlords who are not will be forced out in favor of large corporate ownerships.

If you think the rent is unreasonable now wait till they get a hold of it.

Massachusetts Rent Control Initiative (2026)

Ballotpedia: The Encyclopedia of American Politics

ballotpedia.org

 

[Manonthestreet]

I couldn't be a landlord......

 

[jotathought]

I couldn't be a landlord......

Agree 100% .. you never know how a tenant is going to "live," and with some state laws, evicting tenants can be a nightmare.

Airbnb .. maybe .. rental unit .. absolutely not.

 

[jotathought]

As a veteran landlord of a good number of rental units I can tell you this is a terrible idea.

I go out of my way to make sure my tenants are not oppressed by what I charge. At the same time I have to face increasing expenses from the insurance companies, the municipalities and the tax man.

I'm in a good position debt-wise.... Landlords who are not will be forced out in favor of large corporate ownerships.

If you think the rent is unreasonable now wait till they get a hold of it.

Massachusetts Rent Control Initiative (2026)

Ballotpedia: The Encyclopedia of American Politics

ballotpedia.org

I feel your pain. Are you located in Massachusetts?

 

[justoffal]

I feel your pain. Are you located in Massachusetts?

Yep

 

[SassyIrishLass]

My husband and tried the rental thing a few years ago. Never again. Destroyed property, always chasing rent...we sold out.

 

[yidnar]

As a veteran landlord of a good number of rental units I can tell you this is a terrible idea.

I go out of my way to make sure my tenants are not oppressed by what I charge. At the same time I have to face increasing expenses from the insurance companies, the municipalities and the tax man.

I'm in a good position debt-wise.... Landlords who are not will be forced out in favor of large corporate ownerships.

If you think the rent is unreasonable now wait till they get a hold of it.

Massachusetts Rent Control Initiative (2026)

Ballotpedia: The Encyclopedia of American Politics

ballotpedia.org

 

[jotathought]

Yep

So, Massachusetts is imposing a 5% annual cap (or CPI %) on rental/lease agreements? Any other measures I didn't pick up from the legislation? From a property owner's perspective, what would a typical rate increase look like, and what frequency would it be applied?

 

[Concerned American]

As a veteran landlord of a good number of rental units I can tell you this is a terrible idea.

I go out of my way to make sure my tenants are not oppressed by what I charge. At the same time I have to face increasing expenses from the insurance companies, the municipalities and the tax man.

I'm in a good position debt-wise.... Landlords who are not will be forced out in favor of large corporate ownerships.

If you think the rent is unreasonable now wait till they get a hold of it.

Massachusetts Rent Control Initiative (2026)

Ballotpedia: The Encyclopedia of American Politics

ballotpedia.org

I don't envy your position at all. I had a rental and like you took care of my tenant. So well, that she purchased the home. I am acquainted with people, who despite their best efforts, ended up deep in debt after dead beat tenants left the property in shambles while months-long eviction proceedings for non-payment of rent worked their way through the system. Something is broken when the gov't does not let the free market reign.

 

[SassyIrishLass]

I don't envy your position at all. I had a rental and like you took care of my tenant. So well, that she purchased the home. I am acquainted with people, who despite their best efforts, ended up deep in debt after dead beat tenants left the property in shambles while months-long eviction proceedings for non-payment of rent worked their way through the system. Something is broken when the gov't does not let the free market reign.

We had to evict one. Took nearly 5 months. Ended up without 5 months rent and a few thousand to bring it back up to speed.

 

[justoffal]

My husband and tried the rental thing a few years ago. Never again. Destroyed property, always chasing rent...we sold out.

Yeah....

It costs me about 10K minimum on a turnover to prepare the unit.

 

[SassyIrishLass]

Yeah....

It costs me about 10K minimum on a turnover to prepare the unit.

About right. Carpet ruined, drywall damaged, water damage in the bathroom, etc etc

It's a fool's errand

 

[justoffal]

About right. Carpet ruined, drywall damaged, water damage in the bathroom, etc etc

It's a fool's errand

Yeah

 

[justoffal]

We had to evict one. Took nearly 5 months. Ended up without 5 months rent and a few thousand to bring it back up to speed.

Yeah....in Massachusetts eviction is almost impossible....it can be done but the minimum retainer for a lawyer is about 2.5k just to begin the process.

 

[SassyIrishLass]

Yeah....in Massachusetts eviction is almost impossible....

Wasn't easy here. Finally got it done and the tenants blamed us. Mind boggling

 

[justoffal]

Wasn't easy here. Finally got it done and the tenants blamed us. Mind boggling

Only had to do it once ...
That turnover was 30k+..…
Adding the legal costs to the massive damage.
I try very hard to make it work for people.

 

[SassyIrishLass]

Only had to do it once ...
That turnover was 30k+..…
Adding the legal costs to the massive damage.
I try very hard to make it work for people.

Cost us about 18k. Fixed it and got the hell out of the entire thing . Never again.

 

[Concerned American]

Cost us about 18k. Fixed it and got the hell out of the entire thing . Never again.

I recommend anyone who is considering being a landlord to watch the movie "Pacific Heights" with Michael Keaton. Then research rent control in places like NYC.

 

[Meister]

My husband and tried the rental thing a few years ago. Never again. Destroyed property, always chasing rent...we sold out.

There are owners and there are renters.
Owners take pride in their property and it shows.
Renters don't give a damn, it's not theirs and it shows. (Mostly)

 

[Concerned American]

About right. Carpet ruined, drywall damaged, water damage in the bathroom, etc etc

It's a fool's errand

I worked with a guy that decided that rental properties was a good investment. He believed that renting to section 8 tenants was the way to go. According to him, if the tenant failed in his responsibilities the gov't would handle any problems. I retired soon after he made the decision--I wonder how it worked out for him.