While you are all enjoying your summer, we thought that you might be interested in what is happening at the State House and Somerville City Hall.

Effective Aug 1, 2025, rental property owners must pick up, with a small few exceptions, the entire broker’s fee when they use a Licensed Real Estate Broker to rent their apartments. This was sneaked into the budget bill without our knowledge by the Governor and Somerville’s Legislative Delegation.

Tuesday, July 29, there is a hearing at the state house that would bring rent control back to any community that votes for it either by ballot initiative or through that community’s governing body.

The legislation can be found here:
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1447

List of committee members
https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Detail/J10/194

WE URGE you to at least submit written testimony against it!

If this passes and rents are frozen or lowered we will all see a reduction in the value of our buildings. This will force cities to cut essential services like police, fire and schools.

The other bill at the State House would make it illegal to rent an apartment more than 90 days in advance. If this passes, tenants will be scrambling at the last minute in August to find housing for Sept 1st.

Somerville Updates:
For the condo conversion ordinance already in place, there is a push to extend the notification period from 1 year to 2 years and increase on moving expenses paid out to displaced tenants.

Your property is at risk of losing value. Your rents could be frozen or lowered.

We urge you to join us and speak up to protect your investment for yourself, your family, and your children.