HomeAbout MRHA

Welcome to the Massachusetts Rental Housing Association

The only statewide association for landlords and property owners with over 21 local affiliated associations.

Landlords and Property Managers all across the state have realized that finding out about Massachusetts Landlord Tenant Law, keeping up with any changes, and most importantly understanding and applying it, is an almost impossible task, especially alone. Who can you turn to for help? Often the best answer you get, is to hire an attorney, because you’re a business.

The same goes for running your business, what paperwork should you use, how do you properly screen a tenant, or do a credit check, or maintain a proper relationship with your tenant(s). Who can you turn to?.........The Massachusetts Rental Housing Association!

There is power in knowledge and strength in numbers. 95% of the pitfalls you may face as a landlord can be avoided entirely if you know the laws regulating rental housing in Massachusetts and properly screen prospective tenants. Some things, not under your control, can never be avoided, so the MRHA is not a guarantee. However, you will certainly minimize your losses and expedite possession when you become part of the unavoidable 5%, by knowing and understanding the rules!

MRHA believes that education is the key to promoting growth and stability in the Rental Housing Industry. Our network of affiliated associations conduct meetings regularly with industry professionals as their keynote speakers on a wide variety of subjects to help educate their members. An educated owner not only improves his/her chances of avoiding the many dangers inherent in this highly regulated business environment, but also helps to establish a positive and professional image of the rental owner, and rental housing, within the local community.

MRHA also works with Public Officials and the Media on issues affecting the Rental Housing Industry, specifically from the small owner’s perspective.

Through grass roots action, MRHA provides feedback regarding the effects of legislation and regulation upon the segment of the rental industry that provides the bulk of privately owned and affordable, rental housing.

Education and Advocacy

The key to MRHA's success!

MRHA focuses on education. Experience has taught us that over 90% of the pitfalls you may face as a landlord can be completely avoided. How? By knowing the laws, regulations, and procedures that govern the rental housing industry in Massachusetts. Finding out during a summary process case (eviction case), unfortunately is too late! You need to have your I's dotted and your T's crossed, not just on paper but with your practices as well, before you speak to a prospective tenant. In some situations the law awards tenants triple damages, plus court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees if you don't follow the statutes. It also doesn't necessarily matter if you meant to break the law or if you even knew.

You can't prevent everything! There is no guarantee and we would never mislead you into thinking there is. Once you find yourself stuck in one of the pitfalls, knowing the rules can help you save time, money, and heartache. If you don't follow the rules of summary process your case can be thrown out on procedural errors which means you have to start again from the beginning.

Local affiliated associations statewide! MRHA is the only statewide landlord association with affiliated associations. Our affilited associations meet regularly to address your needs as a property owner or manager.

Lessons learned the hard way! Too often we hear the stories from our members that after experiencing the system, and losing time, money, and legal fees, they learned something about the process they either didn't know or believed they were following, only to find out the hard way, they were wrong or misinformed. Don't become one of those stories or a statistic!