As of the writing of this update, there are many items teed up for action that are of interest to SPOA, but there are no definite timelines on any so far. The biggest of these legislative items is Governor Healey's Housing Bond Bill, which besides authorizing $4.1 billion of capital bond authorizations for a five-year funding plan for affordable housing production, also contains the governor’s transfer tax proposal. When the bill came before the Joint Committee on Housing, SPOA testified against this proposal because of the burden it would place on small property owners looking to sell their properties. Although less Draconian than a separate proposal present in separate pending legislation, the bond bill also contains a provision regarding record sealing for tenant applicants. We continue to work at the Massachusetts State House to defeat these provisions when the bill comes up for debate.Blocking credit checks is also something that is being considered by the legislature and one which we are talking to legislators about—specifically what a disaster it would be for affordable rental housing providers. Rather than making it harder for landlords to provide desperately needed housing, SPOA is suggesting positive measures, such as mandating that disputed rents be placed in escrow until a matter is decided by the courts, thereby allowing landlords to recoup their rents if they prevail.With only two months remaining for the Massachusetts House and Senate to take up controversial items such as the bond bill, time is running short. During this period, it is vital that SPOA members continue to advocate to their own state representatives and state senators against provisions in the housing bond bill that harm landlords, and instead focus on production of affordable housing and incentivizing more people to enter the rental housing provider sector.
by Jim Eisenberg