Bill > H1814

This bill creates the Office of the Tenant Advocate within the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office to protect tenants' rights in public and subsidized housing. The bill defines several key terms related to tenant harassment, including "bullying" (any communication intended to hurt or control a target), "hostile environment harassment" (unwelcome conduct that interferes with a tenant's ability to peacefully enjoy their residence), and "mobbing" (group harassment aimed at forcing a tenant to leave their home). The office will have the authority to intervene in administrative, regulatory, and judicial proceedings to investigate and address harassment by landlords or housing authorities. The bill establishes that hostile environment harassment can be proven without requiring physical or psychological harm, and will be evaluated from the perspective of a reasonable person in the victim's position. The definition of "peaceful enjoyment" is explicitly defined as the right to use one's home and common spaces without interference, with the landlord or housing authority legally responsible for ensuring this right. This legislation aims to provide stronger protections for tenants against various forms of harassment and give the Attorney General's Office a dedicated mechanism to address tenant rights violations.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1814