Hopefully, the vast majority of you will experience no severe issues with your housing. Most landlords and management companies in Boston are reputable, and they deal with issues promptly. However, some are not, and your status as a student can make it easier for those individuals to ignore serious issues and defer maintenance unless you know your rights. Here are some examples of the types of issues that sometimes arise:

• Do you have no heat or inadequate heat in the winter?

• Do you have problems with malfunctioning appliances, electrical outlets, plumbing, or structural issues?

• Do you have a problem with cockroaches, mice, or other pests?

• Does your landlord want to evict you?

• Is your former landlord withholding your security deposit or using portions of it to pay for wear and tear on the apartment?

The landlord is often responsible for correcting these issues. You have rights in the state of Massachusetts known as tenant rights. You can read about them here. I strongly encourage you to read this material closely if you think that you have a legitimate complaint.