reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 186 § 15a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will|Section 15a - Waiver of Notices; Lease or Rental Agreement Provisions; Validity

Section 15A. Any provision of a lease or other rental agreement relating to residential real property whereby a lessee or tenant enters into a covenant, agreement or contract, by the use of any words whatsoever, the effect of which is to waive the notices required under section eleven or twelve, shall be deemed to be against public policy and void.
MA Gen L ch 186 § 15c (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will|Section 15c - Residential Real Estate, Lease Payments Based on Real Estate Tax Increases

Section 15C. No lease relating to residential real estate shall contain a provision which obligates a lessee to make payments to the lessor on account of an increased real estate tax levied during the term of the lease, unless such provision expressly sets forth (1) that the lessee shall be obligated to pay only that proportion of such increased tax as the unit leased by him bears to the whole of the real estate so taxed, (2) the exact percentage of any such increase which the lessee shall pay, and (3) that if the lessor obtains an abatement of the real estate tax levied on the whole of the real estate of which the unit leased by the lessee is a part, a proportionate share of such abatement, less reasonable attorney's fees, if any, shall be refunded to said lessee. Any provision of a lease in violation of the provisions of this section shall be deemed to be against public policy and void.  If the exact percentage of any such increased tax contained in such a provision is found to exceed that proportion of such increased tax as the lessee's unit bears to the whole of the real estate so taxed, then the lessor shall return to the lessee that amount of the tax payment collected from the lessee which exceeded the lessee's proportionate share of the increased tax, plus interest calculated at the rate of five per cent per year from the date of collection.
MA Gen L ch 186 § 15d (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will|Section 15d - Oral Agreement to Execute Lease; Delivery of Lease Copy; Penalty; Waiver

Section 15D. A lessor who has agreed orally to execute a lease and obtains the signature of the lessee shall, within thirty days thereafter, deliver a copy of said lease to the lessee, duly signed and executed by said lessor. Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars. Any waiver of this provision in any lease or other rental agreement shall be void and unenforceable.
MA Gen L ch 186 § 15e (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will|Section 15e - Action Against Owner; Injuries Due to Defects Violating Building Code; Defense; Waiver

Section 15E. An owner of a building shall be precluded from raising as a defense in an action brought by a lessee, tenant or occupant of said building who has sustained an injury caused by a defect in a common area, that said defect existed at the time of the letting of the property, if said defect is at the time of the injury a violation of the building code of the city or town wherein the property is situated. Any waiver of this provision in any lease or other rental agreement shall be void and unenforceable.
MA Gen L ch 186 § 15f (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will|Section 15f - Residential Leases or Rental Agreements Restricting Litigation or Landlord Liability; Ouster of Tenant; Remedies

Section 15F. Any provision of a lease or other rental agreement relating to residential real property whereby the tenant agrees to waive his right to trial by jury in any subsequent litigation with the landlord, or agrees that no action or failure to act by the landlord shall be construed as a constructive eviction, shall be deemed to be against public policy and void.  If a tenant is removed from the premises or excluded therefrom by the landlord or his agent except pursuant to a valid court order, the tenant may recover possession or terminate the rental agreement and, in either case, recover three months' rent or three times the damages sustained by him, and the cost of suit, including reasonable attorney's fees.  Any agreement or understanding between a landlord and a tenant which purports to exempt the landlord from any liability imposed by this section shall be deemed to be against public policy and void.
MA Gen L ch 186 § 16 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will|Section 16 - Leases or Rental Agreements Restricting Occupancy of Children

Section 16. Any provision of a lease or other rental agreement relating to real property whereby a lessee or tenant enters into a covenant, agreement or contract, by the use of any words whatsoever, the effect of which is to terminate, or to provide that the lessor or landlord may terminate, such lease or agreement if the tenant has or shall have a child or children, who shall occupy the premises covered by such lease or agreement, shall be deemed to be against public policy and void.
MA Gen L ch 186 § 17 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will|Section 17 - Occupancy Constituting Tenancy at Will; Termination

Section 17. For the purposes of this chapter, chapter one hundred and eleven and chapter two hundred and thirty-nine, occupancy of a dwelling unit within premises licensed as a rooming house or lodging house, except for fraternities, sororities and dormitories of educational institutions, for three consecutive months shall constitute a tenancy at will; provided, however, that if the rent for occupancy in such premises is payable either daily or weekly, seven days written notice to the occupant shall be sufficient to terminate the tenancy where the tenant is committing or permitting to exist a nuisance in or is causing substantial damage to the rental unit, or is creating substantial damage to the rental unit, or is creating a substantial interference with the comfort, safety, or enjoyment of the landlord or other occupants of the accommodation; and provided, further, that the notice shall specify the nuisance or interference. Occupancy of a dwelling unit within a rooming house or lodging house, except for fraternities, sororities and dormitories of educational institutions, for more than thirty consecutive days and less than three consecutive months, or within a fraternity, sorority or dormitory of an educational institution for any length of time, may only be terminated by seven days' notice in writing to the occupant by the operator of such dwelling unit.
MA Gen L ch 186 § 19 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will|Section 19 - Notice to Landlord of Unsafe Condition; Tort Actions for Injuries Resulting From Uncorrected Condition

Section 19. A landlord or lessor of any real estate except an owner-occupied two- or three-family dwelling shall, within a reasonable time following receipt of a written notice from a tenant forwarded by registered or certified mail of an unsafe condition, not caused by the tenant, his invitee, or any one occupying through or under the tenant, exercise reasonable care to correct the unsafe condition described in said notice except that such notice need not be given for unsafe conditions in that portion of the premises not under control of the tenant. The tenant or any person rightfully on said premises injured as a result of the failure to correct said unsafe condition within a reasonable time shall have a right of action in tort against the landlord or lessor for damages. Any waiver of this provision in any lease or other rental agreement for residential use shall be void and unenforceable. The notice requirement of this section shall be satisfied by a notice from a board of health or other code enforcement agency to a landlord or lessor of residential premises not exempted by the provisions of this section of a violation of the state sanitary code or other applicable by-laws, ordinances, rules or regulations.
MA Gen L ch 186 § 20 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will|Section 20 - Attorneys' Fees and Expenses; Residential Lease Provisions; Implied Covenant; Waiver

Section 20. Whenever a lease of residential property shall provide that in any action or summary proceeding the landlord may recover attorneys' fees and expenses incurred as the result of the failure of the tenant to perform any covenant or agreement contained in such lease, or that amounts paid by the landlord therefor shall be paid by the tenant as additional rent, there shall be implied in such lease a covenant by the landlord to pay to the tenant the reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses incurred by the tenant as the result of the failure of the landlord to perform any covenant or agreement on its part to be performed under the lease or in the successful defense of any action or summary proceeding commenced by the landlord against the tenant arising out of the lease, and an agreement that such fees and expenses may be recovered as provided by law in an action commenced against the landlord or by way of counterclaim in any action or summary proceeding commenced by the landlord against the tenant. Any waiver of this section shall be void as against public policy.
MA Gen L ch 186 § 21 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will|Section 21 - Disclosure of Insurance Information by Lessor; Violations; Waiver

Section 21. The landlord or lessor of any residential or commercial property, upon the written request of any tenant or lawful occupant, of any code or other law enforcement official or of any official of the municipality in which the property is situated, shall disclose in writing within fifteen days of such request the name of the company insuring the property against loss or damage by fire and the amount of insurance provided by each such company and the name of any person who would receive payment for a loss covered by such insurance. Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars. A waiver of this section in any lease or other rental agreement shall be void and unenforceable.
MA Gen L ch 186 § 25 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will|Section 25 - Refusal of Rental Agreement or Assistance Based on Termination of Rental Agreement Under Sec. 24 or Request for Change of Lock Under Sec. 26 Prohibited

Section 25. An owner shall not refuse to enter into a rental agreement, nor shall a housing subsidy provider deny assistance, based on an applicant having terminated a rental agreement under section 24 or based upon an applicant having requested a change of locks under section 26.
MA Gen L ch 186 § 27 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will|Section 27 - Jurisdiction of Courts to Restrain Violation of Secs. 23 to 26; Applicability of Other Laws to Requests to Change Locks

Section 27. The superior court, housing court, district court and Boston municipal court shall have jurisdiction in equity to restrain violations of sections 23 to 26, inclusive. Section 18 of this chapter and section 2A of chapter 239 shall apply to an act taken in reprisal against a person for requesting that locks be changed under section 26.  Notwithstanding sections 23 to 26, inclusive, if a court has issued a protective order under chapter 209A, or any other law, ordering a tenant, co-tenant or member of the household to vacate the dwelling unit, the owner shall not interfere with the order and upon a request to change the locks as described in section 26, shall comply with such request.
MA Gen L ch 186 § 28 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will|Section 28 - Waivers of Secs. 23 to 27 Void and Unenforceable

Section 28. A waiver of sections 23 to 27, inclusive, in any lease or other rental agreement, except as otherwise provided by law or by federal, state or local regulation shall be void and unenforceable.
MA Gen L ch 186 § 29 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will|Section 29 - Owner Immunity From Liability

Section 29. (a) An owner complying with sections 23 to 28, inclusive, or with the requirements of an order under chapter 209A or any other law, shall be relieved of any liability to the vacated tenant, co-tenant or member of the tenant's household, or to any other third party on account of the owner's good faith compliance with a court order or changing the locks as provided in section 26 including, but not limited to, withholding a key from the alleged perpetrator, as provided in subsection (c) of section 26. Damages shall not be imposed if the court determines that the matter was of a good faith dispute between the owner and tenants.  (b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any owner who demonstrates that such owner's conduct constituted a good faith effort to comply with sections 23 to 29, inclusive, shall not be liable for multiple damages or for attorney's fees.
MA Gen L ch 186 § 30 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will|Section 30 - Inspection of Vacated Property for Presence of Abandoned Animals

Section 30. Not more than 3 days after a property owner or a lessor knew or should have known that a property has been vacated through termination of tenancy, abandonment or other removal or exclusion of a tenant from the premises under this chapter or chapter 186A, the property owner, lessor or a designee shall inspect the property for the presence of abandoned animals.  If the property owner, lessor or a designee encounters an abandoned animal, that person shall immediately notify an animal control officer as defined in section 136A of chapter 140, a police officer or other authorized agent of the presence and condition of the animal.  The property owner, lessor or a designee who encounters an abandoned animal under this section shall not be considered the owner, possessor or person having charge or custody of the animal under section 77 of chapter 272.  For the purposes of this section, an animal shall be considered abandoned if it is found on or in a property vacated through termination of tenancy, abandonment or other removal or exclusion of a tenant from the premises under this chapter or said chapter 186A.  If the property owner, lessor or designee fails to comply with this section, the lessor or property owner shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $500 for a first offense and not more than $1,000 for a second or subsequent offense. Funds collected under this section shall be deposited into the Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund established in section 35WW of chapter 10.
MA Gen L ch 186a § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186a - Tenant Protections in Foreclosed Properties|Section 2 - Eviction of Tenants Prohibited; Exceptions

Section 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a foreclosing owner shall not evict a tenant except for just cause or unless a binding purchase and sale agreement has been executed for a bona fide third party to purchase the housing accommodation from a foreclosing owner.
MA Gen L ch 186a § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186a - Tenant Protections in Foreclosed Properties|Section 3 - Written Notice of Identity and Address of Foreclosing Owner

Section 3. Within 30 days of the foreclosure, the foreclosing owner shall post in a prominent location in the building in which the rental housing unit is located a written notice stating the names, addresses, telephone numbers and telephone contact information of the foreclosing owner, the building manager or other representative of the foreclosing owner responsible for the management of such building and stating the address to which rent and use and occupancy charges shall be sent. This requirement shall be satisfied if the foreclosing owner or someone acting on his behalf has: (i) posted in a prominent location in the building; (ii) mailed by first class mail to each unit; (iii) and slid under the door of each unit in the building a document stating the names, addresses, and telephone contact information of the foreclosing owner, the building manager or other representative of the foreclosing owner responsible for the management of such building and stating the address to which rent and use and occupancy charges shall be sent.  A foreclosing owner shall not evict a tenant for actions that constitute just cause unless the foreclosing owner has delivered to each tenant at the time of delivery of written notice pursuant to this section, a written disclosure of the tenant's right to a court hearing prior to eviction.
MA Gen L ch 186a § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186a - Tenant Protections in Foreclosed Properties|Section 4 - Just Cause Eviction; Prerequisites

Section 4. (a) A foreclosing owner shall not evict a tenant for the following actions that constitute just cause until 30 days after the notice required by section 3 is posted and delivered: (i) the tenant has failed to pay the rent in effect prior to the foreclosure or failed to pay use and occupancy charges, as long as the foreclosing owner notified the tenant in writing of the amount of rent or the amount of use and occupancy that was to be paid and to whom it was to be paid; (ii) the tenant has materially violated an obligation or covenant of the tenancy or occupancy, other than the obligation to surrender possession upon proper notice, and has failed to cure such violation within 30 days after having received written notice thereof from the foreclosing owner; and (iii) the tenant who had a written bona fide lease or other rental agreement which terminated, on or after August 10, 2010, has refused, after written request or demand by the foreclosing owner, to execute a written extension or renewal thereof for a further term of like duration and in such terms that are not inconsistent with this chapter.  (b) A foreclosing owner shall not evict a tenant for the following actions that constitute just cause until the notice required by section 3 is posted and delivered: (i) the tenant is committing a nuisance in the unit, is permitting a nuisance to exist in the unit, is causing substantial damage to the unit or is creating a substantial interference with the quiet enjoyment of other occupants; (ii) the tenant is using or permitting the unit to be used for any illegal purpose; and (iii) the tenant has refused the foreclosing owner reasonable access to the unit for the purpose of making necessary repairs or improvement required by the laws of the United States, the commonwealth or any subdivision thereof, or for the purpose of inspection as permitted or required by agreement or by law or for the purpose of showing the unit to a prospective purchaser or mortgagee provided.
MA Gen L ch 186a § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186a - Tenant Protections in Foreclosed Properties|Section 5 - Claim by Foreclosing Owner to Set New Use and Occupancy Rate

Section 5. If a foreclosing owner disagrees with the amount of rent or use and occupancy rates that a tenant-at-will or lessee pays to the foreclosing owner, the foreclosing owner may bring a claim in district or superior court or the housing court to claim that the rent is unreasonable and set a new use and occupancy rate. A bona fide lease between the foreclosed-upon owner and the lessee or proof of rental payment to the foreclosed-upon owner shall be presumed reasonable.
MA Gen L ch 186a § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 186a - Tenant Protections in Foreclosed Properties|Section 6 - Penalties for Illegal Eviction; Jurisdiction; Defenses

Section 6. A foreclosing owner that evicts a tenant in violation of this chapter or any ordinance or by-law adopted pursuant to this chapter, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $5,000. Each such illegal eviction shall constitute a separate offense.  The district and superior courts and the housing court shall have jurisdiction over an action arising from a violation of this chapter or of any ordinance or by-law adopted pursuant to this chapter, and shall have jurisdiction in equity to restrain any such violation. It shall be a defense to an eviction proceeding that the foreclosing owner attempted to evict a tenant in violation of this chapter or any ordinance or by-law adopted pursuant to this chapter.
MA Gen L ch 187 § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations|Title I - Title to Real Property|Chapter 187 - Easements|Section 1 - Right to Light and Air

Section 1. Whoever erects a house or other building with windows overlooking the land of another shall not, by the mere continuance of such windows, acquire an easement of light or air so as to prevent the erection of a building on such land.