City Council takes steps to stop displacement

During the October 18, 2017 Boston City Council meeting, the Council voted to adopt a Resolution urging the State Legislature to pass House Bill 3017, an Act to Preserve Affordable Housing Through a Local Option Tenant’s Right to Purchase. This bill would allow tenants, or a non-profit on their behalf, the opportunity to match the fair market value offered by a prospective buyer for a building with three or more units. If a non-profit or the City purchases the building, they are required to keep the units affordable. This would provide Boston with an important tool to fight the displacement and affordable housing crises.

“Displacement is a public health issue and the current housing crisis in Boston has destabilizing effects on individuals, families, and entire communities. One of the most immediate and disruptive challenges facing residents is access to safe, clean, and affordable housing, ” said Councilor Pressley.

She followed up with, “As the Founder and Chair of the City Council’s Committee on Healthy Women, Families, and Communities, I know that affordable housing is critical to the health of our communities, the preservation of our racial, cultural and socioeconomic diversity, and the stability of our workforce. This is a national crisis that we need to address regionally and we need to leverage every tool available to us to stop displacement.

This bill only guarantees the opportunity to match an existing offer to purchase the building, thereby maintaining the seller’s interest to retain fair market value for their property. The District of Columbia implemented this same legislation in 1980 and has given tenants the ability to protect themselves and give them the ability to remain in their home.