What Owners, Landlords, and Property Managers Need to Know By: Howard S. Goldman, Esq. While lead-based paint, having been banned in 1978, may seem like a distant memory for most of us, the presence of lead-based paint in older condominiums and apartment buildings poses some very real challenges for landlords and property managers today. The state and federal laws with respect to lead-based paint set up a strict set of rules for residential property owners and managers which must be adhered

I. Introduction Instances of home-sharing or short term rentals have skyrocketed in recent years due to the rise in popularity of websites such as Airbnb.com, homeaway.com and vrbo.com. For a small fee, these websites connect homeowners with potential renters who are interested in finding a place to stay for as little as one night at a time. Homeowners can make a significant profit by allowing renters nightly use of their entire home or even a single bedroom therein, especially in major

I. Introduction Over the past several decades, the number of employers hiring independent contractors, consultants, freelancers, temps, part-timers, and contingent employees has increased significantly. Hiring independent contractors tends to provide employers with substantial financial savings, flexibility in staffing projects and greater efficiency due to the specialized expertise of the worker. Additionally, many workers prefer independent contract work because they reject the traditional 9-5, long-term employment under one employer in favor of the flexibility, diversity and freedom that comes with working as

Question: I’m concerned about the legality of some of the decisions made by the board in my condo community. When I asked the association’s attorney for advice, he told me he represents the board and can’t advise individual owners. This seems wrong to me. Owners pay the attorneys’ legal fees through our assessments. Shouldn’t the attorney be looking out for our interest, not the board’s? Answer: Cameron Pease, Esq., a partner in Goldman & Pease, LLC, says he gets this question

By Howard Goldman I. Introduction A mechanic’s lien is a statutorily created lien against real property, the purpose of which is to secure a contractor’s right to payment for services rendered and materials supplied in connection with the improvement of real estate. In this Client Update, we will briefly explain the requirements of the Massachusetts mechanic’s lien statute and how it works. We will explore legal developments relating to the statute, including what constitutes a “written contract” in this evolving digital