The problems usually involve tenants who use code violation charges to evade rent, Schloming says.
"Tenants will get an eviction notice for not paying rent, and, instead of paying or leaving, they'll call the housing inspector," he says.
According to Schloming, these tenants cite small code violations--or even create their own--and landlords are required to fix them.
In the interim, he said, the tenants legally can withhold their rent.
"The worst case is that the tenant won't even let us or the repairmen in," Schloming says. "And when we finally fix whatever the problem is, another one appears."
"If you have a tenant living rent-free for six, eight, 10 months, it's devastating for a property owner," he adds.
SPOA is a 3,000-member statewide organization which was first formed in Cambridge to oppose rent control, which Question 9, a statewide referendum, ended in 1994. It now represents the interests of property owners who own one to 20 rental units.
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