Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Massachusetts

Were tenant rights violated?

We live in a low to moderate income housing complex. This is a 32 unit complex. In the lease that was signed, we (the tenant) are advised that there will be an annual inspection of the unit. These inspections were just done by the property manager. While doing these inspections, the property manager took pictures inside some of the units (of tenants' property), she looked in refrigerators and ovens then wrote on inspection forms that these needed to be cleaned. She also looked inside closets, wrote that some tenants had to much furniture for their unit, others had to better organize their home. She wrote that some tenants needed to get rid of their things out back of their units (such as Bikes, and grills) but other tenants she never said anything to. On one inspection form she actually wrote that the tenant had an attitude.

Is this legal? Were our rights violated and what can we do about it?


Asked on 4/26/02, 10:16 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Trant Law Office of Robert R. Trant

Re: Were tenant rights violated?

A landlord can legally inspect the unit to ensure that the tenant is not damaging the unit and/or the tenant is complying with all terms of the lease and applicable sanitary and building code. As long as the inspector did not damage any of your property or make any threatening remarks then you have no case against the property manager.

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Answered on 4/29/02, 9:43 am


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