Get Updated on Boston City Rental’s Registration and Inspection Procedures

A landlord’s job doesn’t end with just making sure you are taking care of your rental property and tenants properly. 

Same like others, handling a business requires you to abide by its set of rules. And as per the city’s regulation, registering your rental property business is required by the law. A landlord’s day to day task may be loaded but it is unwise to oversee such an important task. 

A rental property is your asset and when managed correctly, can bring you financial freedom. Risking your assets by not knowing the law is not an excuse.

With the help of our property managers, we have gathered updates from the City’s rental registration to share with you to avoid confusion and misconception with the law. 

How to Register in the City of Boston? 

Getting your rental property registered in the city of Boston is made easy. You have 3 options to choose from, depending on what you prefer. You can register online, through mail or submit your registration personally. 

When should you register and its late payment penalty:

Yearly registration of your rental property is a must. The deadline for the registration is every July 1st. Failure to register and paying the fees can get you penalized. A penalty fee of $300 per month will be charged to you until you successfully register your property.  

Since registration is yearly, if you have been running a rental property and have not registered before, it is necessary to take care of the registration so you can prevent penalty fees. 

You don’t want to spend extra just because you failed to register your rental property. Or worse, get your rental property business on hold.

Do I still have to register even if it’s currently unoccupied? 

Even if your rental property is under renovation, is currently vacant, no rent collected on your units or the tenants living in your property are your relatives who are older than 18 years old, you still have to register your property and pay the proper fees.

The only time you don’t need to register is if your rental property is a rooming house, dorm or lodging house or it is a state-owned property, the city or a Federal agency.

How to Register online?

If you want to register online, carefully fill out the application form and provide all the necessary information. 

When planning to send your registration through the mail, you can print out the rental registration form and include a money order or check for your registration fee. If you want to register your property personally, you still have to download, print and fill out the rental registration form and be ready to settle the required fee. 

After filling it out, you will have to submit it in the Inspectional Services, Housing Division Office.

How much do I have to pay for first time registration? How about renewal?

For first time registration of a rental property, you will have to pay $25 per unit. 

If you are only renewing your registration, it will be $15 per unit. 

The most you will have to pay is around $2500 to $5000 depending on the rental property you own. 

The time, effort and money spent in the registration of your property is nothing if you compare it to the headache and additional expenses it will cause if you fail to register.

Inspections

After you successfully register your rental property business, you also have to be compliant with having your property inspection every 5 years. This is to ensure your property is safe and livable. 

(Read our article Here: Why Is a Property Inspection Essential)

This is randomly done and once you get a notice, you have to respond to it within 30 days. 

You have an option to get a City Inspector to check your rental property units or hire a private inspector. 

You have to submit the report and pay the filing fee for each unit.

To prepare for any random city inspection, have your property regularly inspected. You should do a bi-annual property inspection. 

This way, you can prevent any home damages to be bigger and more expensive to repair. You are also assuring your tenants that the property they are living in is within proper standards.

Prevent moments of chaos by simply registering your rental properties yearly. 

Make it a priority to register your property and obtain approvals and licenses to run your rental business accordingly. Being compliant with the law is a must. 

Do you need help in registering your rental property? 

Green Ocean Property Management can help you has the solution. 

Our property managers are always on top of things and your property is always our priority. 

We will assist you in filing your registration if it is your first rental property or with renewing it. We will make it easy for you and even send you reminders if it is time to renew your registration. 

Green Ocean Property Management values the importance of your property too. 

We proactively do bi-annual inspections of your property. 

If we find any issues that may cause harm to your property and your tenants, we’ll notify you right away with a solution. we will let you know and come up with a solution. 

Our inspectors are certified and licensed. We provide you a comprehensive report about your property’s condition and what we need to do to maintain it. 

We want to increase the value of your home by regularly doing property inspections and maintenance tasks. 

Let us guide you and help you with managing your rental property. Give us a call now!

Reach us at hello@greenoceanpm.com or call 617-487-4868. You may also visit our office at 268 Centre St Newton MA 02458.