New Tenant Protections Go Into Effect In Somerville

SOMERVILLE, MA — A city ordinance designed to protect tenants' rights went into effect Dec. 26, officials said. The Housing Stability Notification Act (HSNA), which aims to ensure that tenants facing displacement know their rights and what resources are available to them, was passed by the City Council Sept. 26.

Under the new rules, landlords and foreclosing owners must give tenants a rights document and a resource document when serving an eviction notice. The two documents required to be served with eviction notices are available on the Office of Housing Stability's website in English, Haitian Creole, Spanish, Portuguese, and Nepali.

The information provided to tenants and foreclosed homeowners includes an explanation of the legal protections afforded to them in eviction cases, such as the right to file a counterclaim and the right to appeal an eviction. The resource document provides contact information for organizations that assist with paying for back rent, moving expenses, and/or legal counsel.

Assistance in accessing these resources is available through the Office of Housing Stability to any resident who is at risk of displacement, whether or not they have been served an eviction notice.

"The Housing Stability Notification Act will go a long way toward protecting the members of our community who are most vulnerable to displacement," Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone said in a statement. "The new notification requirement is one of many tools in our toolkit for dealing with the housing crisis. There are legal protections and resources available for persons facing eviction, but tenants need to be aware of their rights to be able to take advantage of them. This new act seeks to ensure any resident facing eviction has access to every tool and support available to them."

For more information about legal protections and resources available for tenants and foreclosed homeowners, landlords’ responsibilities under the HSNA, and enforcement of the HSNA through the City’s Inspectional Services Health Division, please contact the Office of Housing Stability at 617-625-6600 ext. 2581 or visit their website at somervillema.gov/OHS.