Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Massachusetts

The managers at my apartment complex here in Gardner, MA, have decided they were going to raise my rent, but they forgot to send me 30 days notice about it. Now they are trying to collect two months worth of this raised back-rent as well as the new rate for October. I sent them a letter asking why they did not honor our lease agreement and told them that rent in MA can�t be raised retroactively. They have refused to respond to me and they are waiting for me not to pay this back-rent so they can evict me. This a residential lease, but I also have section 8.

1) What source can I cite about them not being able to raise the rent retroactively?

2) What would you suggest that I do next?

Thanks for your help...

Kerry D. Anderholm


Asked on 9/30/11, 9:30 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Joseph Murray Joseph M. Murray, Esq.

I would suggest you bring this to the attention of the agency that provides your section 8 assistance and if they can not provide you with an attorney to review your lease and all communications recieved by you about the rent increase, that you contact an attorney, or the MA Attorney General's Office of Consumer Affairs to review them and give you specific advice, You should not represent yourself without a competent attorney, lest you have a "fool for a client". Good luck!

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Answered on 9/30/11, 7:29 pm


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