Public & Subsidized Housing
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17 Results
Eviction basics and Notices to Quit
Learn about the steps a landlord must take to legally evict you.
Getting a landlord to make repairs
This article gives an overview of your rights to get repairs in your apartment.
Rent basics
Learn the basics about rent laws for private housing, state and federal public housing, and subsidized housing.
Understanding utilities as a tenant
This article answers commonly asked questions about getting and keeping your heat and electricity services.
What is the difference between public and subsidized housing?
Different housing programs have different features. Public housing is housing that the government owns and runs through organizations such as a local housing authority. Subsidized housing is not owned by the government. Subsidized housing...
Understanding your lease as a tenant
When renting a home, you may have a lease or contract. Leases are legal agreements that explain your rights and responsibilities as a tenant, as well as your landlord’s responsibilities. Leases also say the amount of rent you need to pay...
Legal Tactics Booklets: Representing Yourself in an Eviction
If you are facing eviction, use the information within the Booklets below to protect yourself. In Massachusetts, you do not have the right to a lawyer if you are facing eviction. Because of this, many people have to represent themselves...
Federal poverty guidelines
Every year, the federal government updates its poverty guidelines. They are used to decide who is financially eligible for particular programs.
Legal Tactics: Finding Public & Subsidized Housing
An updated version of Legal Tactics: Finding Public & Subsidized Housing is underway. In the meantime, you can view chapters of the 2009 edition here as PDF files. Please note that some information may be outdated.
Moving out of your apartment
Learn how to prepare for moving out of your apartment ahead of time to avoid problems with your landlord.
Public housing leases
Coming soon -- newly updated articles about leases in state and federal public housing in Massachusetts. Including information about: Reading Your Lease Common Lease Terms, Tenants' Obligations, Housing Authority's Obligations, Lease...
Public housing transfers
Coming soon -- newly updated articles about how to transfer to a different apartment if you live are set in state or federal public housing in Massachusetts. Including: types of transfers, whether a Housing Authority can make you transfer...
Reasonable accommodations and housing
We are in the process of updating Chapter 10: Reasonable Accommodations from Legal Tactics: Finding Public and Subsidized Housing. Please check back shortly. In the meantime, you can download the 2009 chapter as a pdf.
Rents in public housing
Coming soon -- newly updated articles about how rents are set in state and federal public housing in Massachusetts. Including information about: Calculating rent, What to do if your income changes, What to do if your household size changes...
Smoking in public housing
Are you worried about breathing in secondhand smoke from your neighbors? Or are you wondering what to do if your landlord is evicting you for breaking a no-smoking rule? Read this article to learn more about smoking policies in public...
Types of tenancies
Learn about the different types of tenancies that renters in Massachusetts may have.
Understanding why your public or subsidized housing application was denied
A housing authority or landlord can deny your application for public or subsidized housing for different reasons. Reasons for why you can be denied depend on: Whether you applied for a federal or state program; and The specific type of...