tenant vs landlord snow removal

Quiksilver620 · January 2011

does anyone know the law in MA is or could direct me to a website? I asked my landlord about snow removal and his answer was "sorry, the tenants have always done it". I checked our lease and there is nothing in it about snow removal.

I thought it was the law that the landlord clear away the snow unless there was something in the lease about it being our responsibility

tia

MrsC968 · January 2011

I'm not sure if there's an official law for this. From what I've witnessed it seems to be a case by case basis.

DH has lived in apartments where they shoveled their snow. The only apartment we shared together our landlord lived in RI so he hired lawn and snow removal services. Sometimes the snow plow was really slow though and there were definitely times when we had to shovel if we wanted to get to work on time.

You can certainly search the internet for any rental laws, but I'm guessing there aren't any.

AndreaB111 · January 2011

I believe you're correct. My sister rents 2 first floor and one 3rd floor apartment in her house, and she has always canceled or not made plans whenever we're expecting snow because she and her wife are responsible for the snow removal. I don't know where you would find the laws on it, but I do think you're right!

AndreaB111 · January 2011

http://bostonrental.com/boston-apartment-rental-news/snow-removal-law-change

"In a stunning development that affects this winter?s accumation, in 2010 the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts upended 125 years of legal precedent regarding clearing snow. As of this year, all Massachusetts property owners are legally responsible for the removal of snow and ice from their property. It is treated just like any other hazard."

"This is a major change in the law and impacts all property owners, both commercial and residential throughout the state. Landlords now have to shovel both early and often to keep areas for public access clear"

SCM1011 · January 2011

I'm a landlord in Somerville and I shovel the sidewalk and steps. We have it in the lease, however, that the driveway is their responsibility to shovel if they want it done. We're fined by the city if the sidewalk is not shoveled and salted.

camedowncrushing · January 2011

When I had rented an apartment the landlord would come over and shovel off the stairs and the sidewalk. We had to shovel out the driveway if we wanted to get our cars out.

btoness · February 2011

Hi, I'm a reporter at WBUR-FM, the NPR station in Boston. I was wondering if you resolved this issue about snow removal. I think a lot of renters deal with this, and I'm looking for someone to talk about it.

Thanks,

Bianca

tenant vs landlord snow removal

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