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Commission discusses HB 60 and concerns about a 4% vacancy trigger for just‑cause protections
Summary
Commission members reviewed the state bill HB 60, which was amended in the Senate to include a 4% vacancy-rate trigger tied to a national vacancy measure; members expressed concern that a national figure could leave Manchester renters with reduced tenant protections while local vacancy rates remain low.
Members of the Manchester Housing Commission discussed HB 60, a state bill concerning landlord‑tenant protections that the commission said would change how "just cause" eviction protections apply.
Commission members explained the bill had been amended to include a vacancy‑rate trigger of 4 percent, tied to a national measure (referred to in discussion as the Federal Reserve vacancy indicator). A presenter said, "the trigger is 4%," and that the legislation would only take effect in places that reach that vacancy threshold for four consecutive quarters. Members raised two main concerns: (1) using a national vacancy rate rather than a local indicator could leave Manchester renters exposed because the city's local vacancy rate has been lower than the national measure, and (2) the bill's change to removal of certain "just cause" protections could make lease nonrenewals more permissive in practice.
The commission discussed next steps for advocacy: members noted the bill was assigned to a conference committee to reconcile House and Senate amendments and identified legislators on that committee by name, suggesting there remained an opportunity for local advocacy while the bill was under reconciliation.
Ending: Commission members said they would continue to monitor HB 60 and to inform local constituencies of developments at the state level.
