The Community Stabilization Act would permit the City of Boston to enact housing protections for Boston residents, including homeowners of six units and less, and tenants. The act is a home rule legislation, which requires approval by the State Legislature. The purpose of this legislation is to strengthen the communities and neighborhoods of Boston against the displacement of residents, homeowners and tenants alike. It is an important tool to preserve current housing, during this time when there is little funding to build new homes that people can afford. The Boston Tenant Coalition believes that preservation of current housing and development of new housing are both necessary in order to begin to deal with the crisis of housing and homelessness existing in Boston. These regulations, which set guidelines for large and corporate owners, are a cost efficient complement to new sources of truly affordable housing, that can be put in place immediately.

Tenant Protections

An end to rent gouging...
Under this proposal, elderly, disabled, and low-to-moderate income tenants could contest rent increases that exceed 5%. Other tenants could contest rent increases over 10%. If the owner can document that a larger increase is justified due to increased operating costs or repairs, this will be considered.

No more unjust evictions...
Large investor or corporate owners would be required to show "just cause" for evictions. All disputes about whether there is "just cause" will go to court. "Just cause" does not include the sale of the property, or optional renovation.

Homeowner Protections

Remedying Code Violations...
Under this proposal, a landlord could get the assistance of Inspectional Services (ISD) to collect rental income to pay for court mandated repairs. This would provide an alternative to the expense of housing court evictions for low income, elderly or disabled landlords.

Foreclosure Protections...
This provision mandates that a written notice of the intent to foreclose be sent by the lender to inform the owner of their right to cure the default. It also provides additional protections for homeowners as alternatives to foreclosure.

Community Protections

Protecting Rental Housing...
Tenants in triple deckers owned by absentee or large landlords would be protected by exisiting condominium conversion law.

Reining in Finders Fees...
This proposal gives the City additional leverage to limit the finders' fees that are charged to tenants for locating apaprtments.

Who would be exempt from rent and eviction regulations?

Owners of single-family and two family properties.

Owners of six units and less, provided that they are Boston residents, living in one of the units. The units can be in multiple buildings. For example, if a Boston landlord owns a triple decker, and owns and lives in a single family house in Boston, their property will be exempt from rent and eviction regulations.

New construction.

Affordable housing that has comparable rent and eviction protections.

List of endorsers:
ACORN
American Federation of Federal, State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) 1489
Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation
Boston Aging Concerns Young and Old United
Boston Center for Independent Living
Boston Mobilization
Boston Teachers Union
Boston Urban Asthma Coalition
Casa Nueva Vida
Centro Presente
Chinese Progressive Association
City Life/Vida Urbana
Clippership Development Tenant Association
Codman Square CDC
Disabled People Liberation Front
Dollars and Sense Magazine
Dorchester People for Peace
Dorchester/Roxbury Labor Committee
Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative
East Boston Ecumenical Community Council
Egleston Square Main Streets
Egleston Square Neighborhood Association
Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston
Fenway Community Development Corporation
Forest Vale Tenant Association
Four Corners Action Coalition
Grassroots International
Greater Boston Labor Council
Greater Bowdoin/Geneva Neighborhood Association
Haley House
Holy Temple Church, Roxbury
Homes For Families
Hyde Square Task Force
Inquilinos Boricuas En Accion
International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE),
Local 877
Jamaica Plain Action Network
Jamiaca Plain Head Start
Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council
Jamaica Plain NDC
Jobs with Justice
La Alianza Hispana
Lourdes Ave Tenant Association
Madison Park Community Development Corporation
Mass Affordable Housing Association
Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants
Mass Association of CDC, Boston Committee
Mass Senior Action Council
Mass Coalition for the Homeless
Mass Coalition For Healthy Communities
Mission Hill Neighborhood Housing Services
NACA
Nazing Court/Seaver Street Tenant Association
Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH)
Nuestra Comunidad
Poor People's United Fund
Rosie's Place
Roxbury Multi-Service Center
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 615, Building Service Division
South Boston Families Advocating Neighborhood Strength (FANS)
Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation
Speak Up, Solutions at Work
Union of Minority Neighborhoods
Urban Artists Alliance
What's Up Magazine

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