Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Speakers press city to enforce state ban on application fees, curb broker fees and consider cooling protections for workers and nursing homes
Summary
Residents asked the committee to enforce Massachusetts restrictions on rental application fees, press to eliminate tenant-paid broker fees, and explore heat-safety protections in city contracts as well as requirements for air conditioning in nursing homes and rental units.
Multiple speakers urged Northampton to strengthen tenant protections and heat-safety rules.
Alex Opre told the committee that application fees for rental housing are illegal in Massachusetts but remain in practice and that broker fees charged to tenants (sometimes nearly a month's rent) limit access to housing. Councilors present noted the city council had passed a resolution seeking to shift broker fees from tenants to landlords and that a state budget under consideration would ban tenant-paid broker fees statewide.
Opre also suggested contract protections for workers during heat events (shade, water, cooling breaks) modeled on other cities and asked the committee to consider whether leases should be allowed to prohibit window air-conditioner units; she also urged requiring air conditioning in nursing homes.
Committee members said they would review the suggestions and consider placing items on a future action agenda. No ordinance was enacted at the forum.
