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Archive for the ‘Boston Laws’ Category

Take a tour at Boston's Harpoon BreweryAnyone who has attended Boston University or the nearby Newton Campus of Boston College will agree that he got much of his education after class. Both campuses are located close to one of the most sophisticated cities in America.  An area that teams with fascinating things to see and do. Those who live in Suffolk University apartments or Berklee  apartments are fortunate to be near Chinatown, the Theatre District and, of course, just a short cab ride to the famous Harpoon Brewery.

The Harpoon Brewery is within blocks of several South Boston apartments which provide great UMass housing opportunities for students. When you get some time away from the books, take a ride down to this famous brewery. They love visitors and will happily give you a tour of the place.

The brewery is only open for tours on the weekend and visitors are encouraged to get their tickets early, because the tours sell out fast. That’s right, this place is so popular that you have to buy a ticket to get in. Saturday tours begin at 10:30 a.m., and a group is allowed in to start their tour every half hour until 5 p.m. However, the tickets are often sold out by 2 p.m. On Sundays, tours launch every half hour from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. While you are waiting for your turn, you can visit the nearby Institute of Contemporary Art or lounge at a neighborhood pub or restaurant.

Tickets for the tour are $5.00, and the cost is well worth it. Your guide will take you through the brewery and explain each step in the beer-making process. No brewing or bottling is actually taking place on the weekend, but that gives you a chance to get close to the equipment. The best part is at the end where, if you are over 21, you are given a free souvenir glass and invited to indulge in some of the frothy stuff you just learned about.

Tasters are given samples of Harpoon’s two premium brands: UFO and Harpoon. Harpoon does not have an open bar; the tasting is part of the tour. It is narrated so that you will acquire a better understanding of what you are drinking. You will learn to appreciate the flavor of fine beer and to tell the difference in quality.

The tasting room is spacious and can accommodate up to 80 people at a time. It features a Brewhouse platform overlooking the brewery. For those who wish to see the factory in operation, Harpoon encourages visitors to come to their weekday tastings held Monday through Fridays at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. These events are free and include complimentary samples of Harpoon and UFO beers. These samplings are also narrated, and include a history of Harpoon and an explanation of the brewing process. Free beer is, of course, very popular with the local college crowd, so come early.

Whether you are taking the tour, or attending a tasting, Harpoon encourages anyone who can to come by public transit since parking spaces in the area are limited. This is convenient for those who are fortunate enough to live in the vicinity. If you want to be a part of the downtown culture of this vibrant, exciting city, browse through available  Boston neighborhood apartments through Warren Rentals and contact one of our expert real estate agents today!

It doesn’t matter whether you’re heading to Boston for the holidays or if you call it your home, there’s a variety of activities that cater to the young adult crowd to make your four- or five-day Thanksgiving break an enjoyable one.

Boston Nightlife

Nightlife
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the biggest bar night of the year. All of your friends are back home and you’re all ready to meet up, knock a few cold ones back and reminisce about your respective schools, jobs, families and lives. And if you’re living in Boston University Apartments or other Boston college apartments in the area, you’re within walking distance from a number of college bars that cater to the younger crowds. Such establishments include Great Scott, Our House West, The Kells, T Anthony’s and the Paradise Rock Club and Lounge. There’s also things to do if you’re living further away from the city in the west-side neighborhoods of Allston and/or Brighton, such as the Deep Ellum and Draft Bar and Grille.

Boston sports activities

Sports
Living in Boston College or Boston University apartments? Then you’re close to one of Boston’s professional sports franchises, several of which are hitting full stride around Thanksgiving. If hockey is your thing, be sure to catch the 2010-11 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins. The Bruins host the Detroit Red Wings and Winnipeg Jets on back-to-back nights starting November 25 at the TD Garden. The defending champs are more than enough excitement to help you get over the Red Sox’s September collapse!

Boston duck boat tours

Take a Tour
Just because you live in Boston doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy all that it has to offer. Don’t take your city for granted, leave your apartment and head downtown to take a “duck boat” tour. The tours show you the sights and sounds of the city, both by land and by sea. Or tie one on with a tour of the Sam Adam’s brewery, which depart every 45 minutes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. most weekdays. Boston is a place that literally just has an aura of history. You might even choose to make your own tour. Take a walk down to the Boston Harbor where the Boston Tea Party took place or past Fenway Park, the oldest ballpark in the MLB.

Boston Common. Enjoying the outdoors of the city.

Enjoy the Outdoors
Just 0.2 miles from the city center is the Boston Commons. What Central Park is to New York City is what the Boston Commons is to Boston. The 50-acre park is the among the oldest in the country and serves as the starting point for a system of connected parks that wind throughout the city’s neighborhoods. If you’re looking to get out of your apartment and wind down, head to “the Common” It’s perfect for walking, jogging, people-watching or just taking in the city that surrounds you. You shouldn’t be thinking about that term paper on your Thanksgiving break, but if you’re looking for some writing inspiration, the Common might be able to help. Martin Luther King Jr. and Pope John Paul III have given speeches at the famed park.

Culture and shopping on Boston's famous Newbury Street.

Take in the Culture
Head over to Newbury Street and browse 15 art galleries that line either side of the road. While you’re there, be sure to stop into Newbury Fine Arts, where you’ll see paintings by Ronnie Wood, the famed Rolling Stones guitarist/artist. It’s a great way to kill some time in between your other stops throughout the city. Plus, as an added benefit, it’s free to browse the galleries. What’s more is it’s just a short commute from downtown apartments and also manageable from west-side Allston and Brighton rentals
.

In an effort to crack down on “problem properties” Boston Mayor, Thomas M. Menino, was expected to sign an executive order last week which would create a task force to help identify and take action against the owners of these properties. As a result, Boston landlords whose properties have been associated with repeated visits from authorities because of crime, noise complaints, as well as other disruptive behaviors will be held accountable for these problems. These landlords may soon face punitive fees, such as bills for $48 for every hour that a police officer must be stationed outside the door. Owners of persistently problematic properties may also face fines up to $300 each time a police officer has to visit the residence. Boston Mayor Menino

The proposed task force would review each case individually before designating the residence a problem property. This task force would consist of 12 members, including the police commissioner, the fire commissioner, and other top city officials. Properties requiring four visits or more throughout the year from police, code enforcement, or health inspectors would be submitted to the committee. After review, a notice would be placed on the door of the property to inform residents that they have been put on notice. The landlord would also be informed about the review via email. After the residents and landlords have been notified of their probation, each infraction will warrant a specific fee.

The task force and fees are part of the proposed effort by Menino to help clean up problem residences throughout Boston. “We will not allow problem properties to drag down the quality of life in our neighborhoods and negatively impact our residents that live and raise families here,’’ Menino said in a statement last week. “Now, residents will have the full weight of the city and all of our resources on their side when it comes to absentee landlords who ignore their responsibility to their neighbors.’’

To avoid problem properties such as these contact Warren Rentals to help you find the best Boston apartment possible!

Don't sign your lease before carefully reading and understanding the contract

Massachusetts has some of the most tenant-friendly laws in the country, and available housing such as  Boston college apartments, of course, are no exception.

Landlords are not allowed to leave problems unfixed, enter your apartment without an appointment, or keep your security deposit if they have no good reason. Whether you’re looking for an Brighton apartment rental, or want to live in Cambridge, Fenway, or West Roxbury. You CAN protect yourself; you just have to pay attention. Know your rights before, during, and especially, after you sign a lease.

Before You Rent:


Make sure you tour the actual apartment, not just a similar apartment in the same building.

Read the lease carefully, making sure to take note on the landlord’s rules about subleasing in case you want the option of leaving the apartment before the lease runs out, and whether rent includes utilities such as gas and hot water.

The City of Boston no longer allows more than four unrelated undergrads from living together; don’t let your landlord break the law by packing in more students. So if you’re paying rent, make sure your name is on the lease!

Make sure you identify the Security Deposit check in the memo

Moving In:

Landlords may be worried about apartments getting messed up, especially if they’re renting students apartments Boston, they may ask for a security deposit up front. This will be in addition to the first and last months’ rent, so make sure you write “Security Deposit” in the memo of a check. (The security deposit does not go to the landlord, it should be held in an escrow account, with the account information being sent to the tenant within 30 days.)

The landlord must send a description of the apartment’s condition. Go through the statements, writing down anything wrong with the apartment, then put a date on it and send it back to the landlord.

If your landlord doesn’t hold up their end of the agreement for any of these laws, you can demand your security deposit back at any time. If your landlord is a normally reasonable person, it most likely won’t come to this.

During Your Lease:

Most likely, something will go wrong during your stay; maybe a busted radiator, an overflowing toilet, or any other number of small issues. Hopefully, a quick phone call will solve the problem, but if not, carefully document the problem and that you told your landlord about it.

If your landlord does not immediately fix the problem, you can pay out of pocket then deduct it from rent

If you have a problem, the best option is to get your landlord to fix it immediately, but there is a state law that allows you to pay out of pocket then deduct the cost from your rent (provided your landlord was given a chance to respond and did not do so in a timely manner.)

It’s always best to put your requests into writing, preferably by US mail rather than an e-mail.

The only way a landlord can charge you a late fee for rent is if your lease says they can, and then it is only if the rent is over 30 days late. (But keep in mind, being late with rent every month will not only annoy your landlord, it can wreck your credit score!)

Document the state of your apartment when you move out

Moving Out:

Document the apartment once more after it’s empty using some type of media to prove the date of the pictures, like a newspaper with the date visible.

Your landlord has 30 days to send you your full security deposit or, if they’re making deductions, an itemized list stating the nature of the repairs that had to be made. The document must be signed under penalty of perjury.

If your landlord fails to follow the security deposit law, you may take them to court and have the possibility of collecting three times the security deposit.

Making sure you understand your rights is the most important piece of advice a tenant can follow. Contact an agent at Warren Rentals to find your new Boston apartment today!

So you decided on a whim to stop in a pet store (“just to look”) and fell in love.  Now it seems it is impossible to find an apartment that will take you and your new Chihuahua (but he’s smaller than most cats!) While finding cat-friendly Boston apartments is relatively easy, finding one that is open to man’s best friend can be quite the endeavor!  Finding pet friendly apartments in Boston is something that only an experienced real estate agent is really good at.  They are not impossible to find, but they usually rent early in the year.  Seasoned pet owners know that they need to start early to find a nice pet friendly pad, so don’t leave your searching to the last minute.

Having a cat, or even two, is rarely ever a problem.  A tenant with two cats and a litter of kittens, however, is something that most landlords would want to avoid at all costs.  So if you’re looking for an apartment, feel free to bring Fluffy but try and get her kittens adopted before you move in.  You’ll also get major bonus points if you get your cat spayed or neutered – being able to ensure that your cat won’t pee on everything will help your prospective landlord sleep easier (and let you move in!)  General hygiene is also important – after you move in, make sure the litter box is always fresh and the pets are well kept.  If you have a stinky apartment, chances are you won’t be offered a renewal on your lease.

Pets that are kept in cages are also usually always allowed.  Bunnies, hamsters, and guinea pigs make great apartment pets.  Fish are also a personal favorite – so pretty and so low maintenance!

When you have a dog, make sure you are specific about the breed and weight.  An experienced realtor will often know the landlords well and be able to convince them into allowing small dogs.  Just to be clear, your 100 pound puppy is not a small dog.  If your dog’s breed has “toy” in the name, chances are you can bring him to most places.  However, there are certain breeds even pet-friendly landlords will never allow, simply because of insurance costs and liability.  Rottweilers, Dobermans, Bull Mastiffs, Great Danes, and Pit Bulls are just a few of these breeds.

If you are looking for the perfect pet-friendly Boston apartment, get in touch with one of our experienced real estate agents to help you find it!

Subletting is a sometimes a necessary evil – especially in Boston because of all of the college students.  Finding the perfect apartment to sublease is often difficult, and finding the perfect sub-letter can be a stressful process.  Many college students in Boston who live in college dorms during the school months choose to sublet a Boston apartment for the summer months rather than go back home.  Study abroad programs also often open up opportunities for subleasing apartments.  Before you jump into a sublease, there are a few quick tips to consider.

If you are trying to find a place to sublet:

  • Start as early as possible. There are many students looking to rent for the summer and not many subletting opportunities. Just like all of the other aspects of Boston real estate, the subletting market moves rapidly.  If you see an apartment, send an inquiry immediately.  If you wait, it may be gone by the time you ask about it.
  • Have a checklist prepared. When you view an apartment, you should have a list of questions for the tenant as well as a checklist of your preferred and required amenities.  Make sure the place is up to your standards – even if the sublease is only a few months, you still need to be comfortable there.
  • Understand your responsibilities. Make sure you completely understand the rules of the tenant – and follow them strictly.  Be clear on what is covered by the rent and what costs you are responsible for.
  • Write it down. There are always instances of illegal subleases; they rarely end well.  Make sure the landlord will be notified of the sublease and that all terms and conditions are met.  A sublease is the only way to determine exactly how the sublease will be carried out.

If you are looking for a sub-letter:

  • Talk to your landlord. Make sure that your landlord or management company is aware and accepting of the sublease.  Many do not allow the process at all, so before you post your place, check in with them.  If they are okay with subletting, ask for an explanation of their preferred procedure and requirements.  Chances are they will have specific documents and procedural steps for the subletting process (and these will make your job much easier.)
  • Choose wisely. You are allowing someone to live in your place and giving them your responsibilities.  With that in mind, make sure you choose someone reliable and responsible.  Enforce rent deadlines.  Even if they seem super reliable, still get everything in writing so if they stray you can legally force them to be reliable.
  • Don’t forget your responsibilities. You are essentially a liaison between your landlord and your sub-letter, so make sure you understand exactly what is required of you.  Make sure you keep up a good rapport with both the sub-letter and the landlord to make sure everything is on the up-and up.

Here is a sample sublease for you to look at:
Source: http://www.renthelper.net/needknow.html

________________________________________

Sublease agreement entered into between _____________ (Tenant), _____________ (Subtenant), and _______________ (Landlord, if required by lease).

Sublease Period: Subtenant agrees to sublease from Tenant, properly known as _____________ from _____________ until ______________.

Terms of sublease: The Subtenant agrees to comply with all terms and conditions of the lease entered into by the Tenant, including the prompt payment of all rents. The lease terms are incorporated into this agreement by reference. The Subtenant agrees to pay the Landlord the monthly rent stated in that lease, and all other rental charges hereinafter due, and otherwise assume all of Tenant’s obligations during the Sublease period and to indemnify Tenant from any liability arising from a Subtenant’s breach.

Security Deposit: The Subtenant agrees to pay to Tenant the sum of $________ as a security deposit, to be promptly returned upon the termination of this sublease and compliance of all conditions of this sublease.

Inventory: Attached to this agreement is an inventory of items or fixtures on the above described property at ______________________. The Subtenant agrees to replace or reimburse the Tenant for any of these items that are missing or damaged.

Landlord’s Consent: Landlord consents to this sublease and agrees to promptly notify the Tenant if the Subtenant is in breach of this agreement. Nothing herein shall constitute a release of Tenant who shall remain bound under this lease. Nothing herein shall constitute a consent to any further Sublease or Assignment of Lease.

Date:
_____________________________
Subtenant

_____________________________
Tenant

_____________________________
Landlord (if required)

Still looking for Boston housing? Contact a Warren  Rentals agent to find your new home in this exciting city!

This Sunday is Father’s Day, which is our opportunity to show our fathers, uncles, and grandfathers our appreciation for their presence in our lives. And in a recent article by Ron Leshnower, you should feel good as a father looking to rent to know that federal law appreciates you by protecting your right to rent an apartment with children.

This particular law is called the Fair Housing Act, which bans discrimination based on “familial status,” referring to having children live with you who are under 18. Those guardians or other family members wishing to rent apartments but are turned away are permitted to take legal action against the building’s landlord. This also applies to Boston college housing: landlords do not have rights to limit the amount of college students living in their buildings.

Click here to read the full article, and to read more on the Fair Housing Act.

Warren Rentals | 138 Newbury St., 4th Floor | Boston MA 02116 | Tel: 800-279-4728, Fax: 617-247-1020 | Email: contact@warrenrentals.com

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