snow shoveling law

[paradise105pw]

What is the name of your state? mass.

my parents live in a five unit building of which they are the owners. my father does not shovel the snow at all. isn't it a law that he must shovel the stairs? he believes that because he notifies the tenants as they move in that he does not shovel it is alright?

is he liable?

 

[queenofsand]

'Is he liable?' It seems so.

"Snow Removal: You are required to keep all means of egress at all times in a safe, operable condition. You must keep exterior stairways, fire escapes, egress balconies, and bridges free of snow and ice. You can require the tenant to be responsible for snow removal only for pathways and stairways which lead only to the tenant s apartment and are not common to the exit of any other unit. "

http://www.gis.net/~groucho/landlord.html#15

I love the title: How to be a Landlord in MA and Avoid Legal Trouble

In a written request for snow removal, tenants should include the specific habitability laws to encourage compliance by the landlord and ask about filing a claim in the event of an accident.

BTW, put on your snow pants and gloves and give your parents a helping hand.

 

[paradise105pw]

snow shoveling

hold on!

thanks for the reply. great help. but! please, please, please do not think for a second that i would ever let my parents shovel! my parents are over 80 and have not shoveled anything since i was a kid!
i'm sorry if i wrote the note to sound as such.

i thought the law in our state was to have the walkways and steps cleared for tenants. no exceptions, and do not want to find my folks being sued.

thanks again.

 

[BL]

hold on!

thanks for the reply. great help. but! please, please, please do not think for a second that i would ever let my parents shovel! my parents are over 80 and have not shoveled anything since i was a kid!
i'm sorry if i wrote the note to sound as such.

i thought the law in our state was to have the walkways and steps cleared for tenants. no exceptions, and do not want to find my folks being sued.

thanks again.

Have them hire a neighbor teen to keep it clear , or a contractor .

Who cleans the common areas ?

Perhaps give a tenant an opportunity to maintain and clean all common areas ,and snow/ice removal, and lower their rent .

Get it in writing .

 

[Alaska landlord]

Have them hire a neighbor teen to keep it clear , or a contractor .

Perhaps give a tenant an opportunity to maintain and clean all common areas ,and snow/ice removal, and lower their rent .

Get it in writing .

Never hire a tenant to do any work for you in turn for lowering rent. It will be done a few times and then neglected. The tenant will expect for you to continue with the lowered rent.
If you must, hire and pay them WHEN the work is completed.

Something else to consider is that you will have to file a 1099 on them and then there is the possibility that the tenant might injure himself and sue you.

 

[nextwife]

Have whomever they have hired to plow the parking lot also shovel for them.

 

[paradise105pw]

snow shoveling

one unit is different as far as egress.
4 units of this building, where my parents and i live, ( i give care to both parents) are first level and have at most, two steps down which crosses a common walkway to the parking lot which we do plow (lot) if the snow is over 3 inches. there is a second level unit in the back with about a 15 step staircase to ground level which leads to a brick path, through a gate and then to the parking lot. that one must have to be cleared for her wouldn't it?
i fear a slip and fall on that one.

side note: all tenants at will, no contracts, leases or written agreement, and in 35 years have had only 1 suit when a tenant drank too much and fell down her interior stairs. we were found liable, too!

thanks

 

[Alaska landlord]

You should always have written contracts. The state landlord tenant act favors tenants not the landlord. It is up to you to protect your rights.