Bill > H1523

This bill establishes an Office of the Condominium Ombudsman within the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office to help resolve disputes and provide support for condominium owners, boards, and managers. The ombudsman will be responsible for receiving and investigating complaints, serving as a liaison between different parties, developing educational materials to help stakeholders understand their rights and responsibilities, and making recommendations to improve rules and procedures related to condominium governance. The office will be funded by a $50 fee paid by sellers upon each condominium conveyance. Additionally, the bill creates a Condominium Mediation Pilot Program, which will employ at least two mediators to help resolve disputes, with a focus on addressing issues like delinquent fees. The mediation program will have guidelines to encourage participation by low and middle-income homeowners and senior citizens, with a participant fee of at least $200 that can be waived in certain circumstances. Importantly, the mediators will not issue binding decisions, but rather aim to facilitate dispute resolution through voluntary cooperation.

Budget and Finance, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1523