Landlords everywhere are getting a barrage of requests from renters to temporarily reduce rent during the COVID-19 public health emergency or not receiving their rent payments altogether.  According to the National Multifamily Housing Council, only 69% of apartment tenants had paid their monthly rent by April 5, down from 81% the previous month - a trend that most likely will worsen. Not all eviction freezes are in place, so landlords in Massachusetts still have some

Whether you have a commercial tenant who owns a yoga studio or a residential tenant who stopped paying rent, COVID-19 is forcing landlords everywhere to call their lawyers and ask:  “Now What?" "It's important to show concern and flexibility during this unprecedented set of circumstances," said Robert R. Pellegrini, Jr., Esq, "but it's also important to remind your tenants of their obligations and set expectations for both parties." Here are a few ways you can

Many of our clients are already hearing phrases like, “acts of God” and “force majeure” from the other party in their contracts--some are trying to get out of the agreement and others are trying to stay the course.  Regardless of which side you find yourself on, you need to know the following information in order to navigate our new reality. The term "force majeure", a common law phrase and clause seen in business contracts, is

Preparing yourself and your family is key during any crisis.  Staying calm and performing the necessary steps to ensure the security of your family will save time and headaches that you’ll want to avoid in case of emergency. Your piece of mind is most important during a time of uncertainty which is why PK Boston Law is here to help. We will deliver documents for signature in two formats: Electronically By Federal Express while it

By Attorney Robert Pellegrini If you wanted to build a neighborhood church or school in mid-20th century Massachusetts, town officials would likely reject your application and refer to the local zoning bylaws. Back then, projects involving charitable, non-profit and/or other uses that enhanced societal causes (by providing necessary education and services) took a back seat to traditional options such as residential housing developments.   "This little known exemption can make or break your