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Arbitration Through the Office of Consumer Affairs – Home Improvement Contractor Program
Last week, I posted about arbitration in general. Today, I want to focus on a specific program offered by the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. Among other things, this office oversees the Home Improvement Contractor Arbitration Program or HICARB. As part of HICARB, homeowner can take a home improvement contractor to arbitration Read More
Amazon Changes Course on Arbitration
According to various news sources, last month, Amazon changed its requirement that those having a dispute with the company take the claim to arbitration. One reason is the expense. For years, I have been telling clients to avoid agreeing to arbitration clauses when possible. First, as Amazon discovered, arbitration is expenses. Places like the American Read More
Damages in a Construction Dispute
Let me present you with a scenario that I have now heard at least dozens of times and maybe more than a hundred at this point. A homeowner hires a contractor do perform renovation work at their home. Let’s say, that the project is to renovate the kitchen for $100,000. The contractor starts the job Read More
Seven Things to Know about the Massachusetts Security Deposit Law
I receive a lot of calls from clients with questions about security deposits that their landlord has taken. The security deposit law in Massachusetts is not overly complex, it just requires precision. Here are some things that both landlords and tenants should know about the rules regarding security deposits on residential properties. A landlord may not take Read More
Nineteen Years and Counting
It’s hard to believe that nineteen years ago today, Tanowitz Law Office, was born. In nearly two decades, we’ve helped more than five hundred clients and handled hundreds more matters than that. Thanks to our clients for continuing to allow us to help you with your matters. We look forward to many more years of helping Read More
Commercial Evictions – When Your Tenant is Behind in Rent
As COVID continues to wreak havoc with our personal lives and our work lives, many businesses are suffering and are unable to pay the rent. When this occurs, landlords have a choice to make. Will they evict the tenant or will they work something out with the tenant and hope that sunnier days are ahead Read More
What The Eviction Moratorium Means for Landlords
By now, you have probably heard that Massachusetts’ eviction moratorium, prohibiting evictions of all kinds, except in the most dire of circumstances, will expire tomorrow. That means a few things. First, the CDC Moratorium becomes effective through the end of the year. For tenants who qualify and fill out the necessary paperwork they may continue Read More
Evictions and the CARES Act
Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act’’CARES Act last week and most of the news has been about the payroll protection program and the checks that the government will be sending out to many Americans in the coming weeks. Section 4023 of the Act relate to forbearance of loan payments for multi Read More
Boston Shuts Down Construction Activity: What You Need To Know and Do
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Marty Walsh all construction activity to stop in the City of Boston effective March 17, 2020. This order appears to apply to both commercial and residential jobs and regardless of the size of the job. If your house is under construction, then your contractor must secure the property Read More
Building Permits and Local Ordinances
We recently touched on the issue of obtaining building permits in home improvement work. In addition to state requirements, most cities and towns have their own local ordinances that govern home construction. You are likely aware that cities and towns dictate zoning and setback requirements, but did you also know that local ordinances can also put further Read More