All Forum Posts by: Bala Nagarajan

I’m looking for advice from experienced MA landlords (especially Section 8/MRVP folks).

I am first time landlord own a 2-family condo in MA.
Tenant is Section 8 (MRVP). Lease is a 1 yr fixed-term lease ending this month end
Tenant has consistently paid her portion of rent — BUT has unpaid utilities and marijuana violations.

Timeline of Events:

1️⃣ Original lease was July 2024 – June 2025.

2️⃣ In March, tenant requested early termination (due to domestic violence) — asked to leave by May 1.

3️⃣ I agreed — we signed Mutual Termination Agreement.

4️⃣ Tenant said new unit was delayed — asked for Reinstatement through May 31 — I agreed and signed.

5️⃣ Tenant then asked again — I agreed to Reinstatement through June 30 (current lease).

6️⃣ Now (mid-June), tenant emailed: “Yes, I will be staying past June 30. because they couldn't secure a unit to move” → No new lease or Reinstatement has been signed yet.

7️⃣ MRVP emailed: they will only pay July if I sign another Reinstatement — I have not done this.

Past issues:

🚩 Tenant had serious marijuana smoking violations under the no-smoking lease clause — repeated for several months last fall/winter — multiple warnings issued.
🚩 No violations in the last 3 months, but due to prior history and current unpaid utilities, I do not wish to renew lease or continue tenancy.

Current Situation:

✅ Tenant pays her portion of rent.
🚩 Owes unpaid electricity 
✅ I hold security deposit.
🚩 MRVP will not pay July unless I sign extension.
🚩 If no action, tenant becomes holdover on July 1.
🚩 I work full-time + have 2 small kids — I cannot afford 3–4 months rent loss or legal delays.

My Questions:

1️⃣ Is it better to serve Notice to Quit July 1 and regain control?

2️⃣ If I sign month-to-month for July (to collect July rent), will this trap me? (MA law does not allow “month-to-month for one month only” — once signed, it rolls forward unless you serve Notice.)

3️⃣ Will my previous flexibility (2 reinstatements) hurt me in court?

4️⃣ Should I hire a lawyer now or wait until August?

5️⃣ Could tenant try retaliation/discrimination claim because of marijuana violation warnings?

Goal: Avoid 3–4 months rent loss, protect my unit (no smoking), and regain possession quickly — I have young kids and work full-time, I cannot get stuck in Housing Court for months.

Any advice from landlords who’ve been here (MRVP or Section 8) is much appreciated!

#Massachusetts Landlord #Section 8  #MRVP #Notice to Quit #Holdover Tenant #Rent Collection

Hi everyone,

I’m a first-time landlord in Massachusetts, living on the second floor of my two-family home while renting out the first-floor unit to a Section 8 tenant. I’m facing a really frustrating and stressful situation with my tenant smoking weed inside their unit.

Despite multiple warnings—including phone calls and an official email on lease violation—the tenant continues to deny smoking and claims I am harassing them. They argue that they also have kids (including a 1-year-old) and that their son has asthma, so they "wouldn’t be smoking." However, the smell of marijuana is strong and consistently seeps into my unit, making it difficult for my family to use our living space. The biggest issue is that my two young children are being woken up at night due to the odor, affecting their sleep and overall well-being.

Since verbal and written warnings haven’t worked, I’m considering hiring an air quality inspection to provide documented proof that they are smoking cannabis or any kind. Would this be helpful in either:

1. Getting them to stop smoking? 
2. Using it as grounds for an early lease termination?

Given that this tenant is on Section 8, I want to ensure I follow the right steps without violating any laws. Their lease ends in June, but I don’t want to wait that long if this continues to impact my family’s health. Has anyone dealt with a similar situation, and if so, what worked for you? Any legal insights or practical solutions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi, @Marc V Palmeri  please let me know how you have dealt with this situation finally. I am currently going through a similar situation and wondering what to do. To make matters worse, I am living with my family on the top floor with my three-year-old and my two-month-old baby. And it is a section 8 tenant . Thanks. 

Thanks @Bryan Montross - sure I will look into other options as well. 

@Daniel McDonald  Thanks for your response! I appreciate your insights.

1% Rule: I agree, getting $4500 in rent for the new unit might be challenging, especially given the local market trends. However, the rental market in Canton has been relatively strong, and I believe there is potential for decent rental income probably $3500, even if it doesn't meet the 1% rule perfectly.

Cash Position: My cash position is fairly stable, but I prefer to hold onto this property long-term rather than pursuing another house hack immediately. My focus is on maximizing the potential of the current property.

I'm a first-time homebuyer and recently purchased a multifamily property in Canton, MA for close to $900K. The property, built in 1875, has two units, each approximately 1200 sqft. I have been living and renting the other. Additionally, there is around 0.4 acres of vacant land at the back of the house.

I'm considering constructing either one or two additional units on this vacant land and renting them out. After inquiring with the town, it seems the chances of getting zoning approval for one unit are higher than for adding two units. If I proceed with adding one unit, around 1500 sqft, the construction and approval costs may amount to approximately $450K, which would bring the total property value to around $1.35 million.

Given that some three-unit properties in Canton have sold for less than $1 million in the last two years, I'm uncertain whether adding this one unit and renting it out would be a wise investment.

My questions are:

1. Is adding a single unit worth the investment considering the current market trends in Canton, MA?
2. Would the rental income from the additional unit justify the $450K investment?
3. Are there alternative investment strategies I should consider for this vacant land to maximize its potential value?

I would greatly appreciate any insights or advice from those with experience in similar projects or knowledge of the Canton,MA real estate market.