HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2924        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3880

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to problem properties and absentee landlords.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf

17th Worcester

1/17/2019

Michelle L. Ciccolo

15th Middlesex

2/1/2019

Marcos A. Devers

16th Essex

6/4/2019

RoseLee Vincent

16th Suffolk

1/30/2019

Bud L. Williams

11th Hampden

1/30/2019

Maria Duaime Robinson

6th Middlesex

6/6/2019

Daniel M. Donahue

16th Worcester

6/6/2019

John Barrett, III

1st Berkshire

6/7/2019

Brian M. Ashe

2nd Hampden

6/7/2019

Lindsay N. Sabadosa

1st Hampshire

6/9/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2924        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3880

By Mr. LeBoeuf of Worcester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3880) of David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf and others for legislation to establish a registry of properties and property owners with multiple violations of health and safety codes.  Housing.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act relative to problem properties and absentee landlords.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 23B of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 31. (a) The department shall establish a registry of properties and property owners with multiple violations of health and safety codes that have not been resolved, as determined by the city or town. The property violation registry shall also include property owners who are found by a court to have violated chapter 93A, 151B, 186 or 186A in relation to a landlord-tenant agreement or relationship. 

The department shall levy a fine on each property on the department’s property violation registry in an amount equal to 20 per cent of the property tax due to the city or town annually. The department shall transfer the full amount of the fine to the city or town within 30 days of collection. The city or town shall expend said funds for park purposes, street light improvements and facility improvements of schools located within a 2 mile radius of the subject property.

(b) The department shall establish a transfer fee for properties listed on the property violation registry in amount equal to $500. The transfer fee shall be due to the department prior to the transfer of any property listed on the property violation registry. The register of deeds for the county in which the real property is located shall not record or register a deed that evidences a transfer of property listed on the department’s property violation registry, unless the deed is accompanied by a certificate issued by the department. The department shall transfer the full amount of the fee to the city or town within 30 days of collection.

SECTION 2. Section 6 of chapter 62 of the General Laws, as most recently amended by section 14 of chapter 228 of the acts of 2018, is hereby further amended by adding the following subsection:-

(w) A credit shall be allowed against the tax liability imposed by this chapter for the purchase of a property listed on the property violation registry by the department of housing and community development pursuant to section 31 of chapter 23B by a person who occupies the property as their primary residence in an amount equal to 20 per cent of the fair market value of the property.