AARP Working to Protect Seniors Who Rent in Massachusetts

AARP Massachusetts is working to protect renters. There are a number of bills the Massachusetts legislature is taking up that could help seniors who rent. AARP submitted testimony in favor of two bills Tuesday, May 15^th; House Bill No. 1731 - An Act Promoting Access To Counsel And Housing Stability In Massachusetts and House Bill No. 1799 - An Act Relative To Rental Protections For Elderly, Disabled And Low-To-Middle Income Tenants

House Bill No. 1731 - An Act Promoting Access To Counsel And Housing Stability In Massachusetts would provide legal representation for renters when they go to housing court.

AARP believes establishing a right to counsel for low-income people facing the loss of their homes would provide safeguards to make sure individuals and families remain securely housed.

“Strengthening access to legal resources before a court eviction can prevent families from becoming homeless, prevent illegal or unnecessary evictions, prevent displacement, and create a path to housing stability”. says Festa “We know that the vast majority of individuals who don’t have a lawyer in housing court lose, while the vast majority who do have a lawyer win”

Read the testimonyhere

AARP offered some suggestions that would strengthen the bill:

• Establish background checks and conflict of interest checks for those providing legal services
• Provide annual report on the legal services used each year
• Access initial startup funding through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program

AARP Massachusetts urged the committee to favorably pass the legislation to protect vulnerable residents of the Commonwealth. State Rep. Dave Rogers (D-Arlington) sponsored the bill.

House Bill No. 1799bill would allow tenants who are accepted to low-income housing to exit their current lease with 30 days’ notice. Right now, tenants are bound by the lease; if someone is on a waitlist for affordable housing, when a spot opens up, the tenant is responsible for paying off their lease for their current residence. The proposed law would allow a renter to break the lease with a 30-day written notice that they are moving to affordable housing.

The number of older renters is projected to increase steadily for the next two decades, from 7.4 million in 2020 to 12.9 million in 2040.

“Older renters tend to be more rent-burdened than younger renters” says Festa "This leaves very little money for other necessities, such as food and health care. People with high housing-cost burdens may be at risk of eviction and displacement if appropriate tenant protection laws are not in place. People of all ages and ability levels need safe, decent, and affordable housing that will enable them to continue living safely in their homes and communities as they get older.”

Read the testimony here

AARP urged the committee to favorably pass the legislation.

State Rep. Steve Ultrino D- Malden sponsored the bill.