Politics & Government
Somerville Makes Changes To Condo Conversion Ordinance
The changes are reportedly supposed to assist tenants and expand their rights.
SOMERVILLE, MA — The city’s new Condominium Conversion Ordinance took effect at the beginning of October. According to Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, the updates have the purpose of assisting tenants and preventing residential displacement.
Condominium conversion is the process for local property owners who intend to remove rental units from the housing market and convert them into condominiums for sale. The process is regulated by Somerville’s Condo Review Board.
The first of the two main updates is the extension of a notice that property owners must give to the Condominium Review Board in order to receive a final permit authorizing the conversion of a vacant and formerly tenanted unit to a lawful condominium. Property owners must now give a minimum of two years notice as opposed to one.
Find out what's happening in Somervillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The second update nearly doubles the amount property owners must pay for tenants from $7,546 to $14,000.
See Also:
Find out what's happening in Somervillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.