Chelsea adopts ordinance regulating property management companies to target substandard landlords

The Chelsea City Council adopted a new ordinance Tuesday to regulate property management companies operating in the city, a measure councilors said is intended to improve housing conditions and give the city enforcement tools against negligent landlords.

The ordinance — drafted with input from city inspectional services, the board of health, the fire department and community groups — was presented to the council after a subcommittee process. Councilor Kelly Garcia thanked community groups and staff for their work, and Councilor Jimenez Rivera and others praised the measure as a tool to hold “slumlords” accountable.

During the roll call vote the clerk announced 10 members in favor, 0 opposed and 1 absent; the president declared the ordinance adopted. Councilors described the ordinance as a step that will allow the city to require registration and oversight for property management companies and to pursue enforcement where managers fail to meet state sanitary code or building standards.

Councilors said the ordinance does not solve every housing problem but creates a local mechanism to pursue bad actors and protect residents’ health and safety. The city solicitor and inspectional services staff worked with community groups — councilors specifically acknowledged La Colaborativa — on language and enforcement pathways.

The council did not specify in the meeting the exact fee schedule or all enforcement mechanics; those implementation details will be managed by the administration and relevant departments under the adopted ordinance.