What Millennial Renters Want in Boston, MA

Boston property managers regard millennials as desirable tenants because they tend to be long-term renters who are not looking to buy a home soon and move out.

But how do you attract millennials to live on your property? What do millennials want from an apartment?

If you are you a Boston landlord looking for millennial tenants, you need to know what millennials are looking for so that you can meet (or even exceed) their expectations.

If you are millennial renter looking for a modern, technologically up-to-date apartment, it’s helpful to know what amenities to look for so that you won’t find you’ve made a mistake after moving in.

Who are Millennials?

Millennials are young people of the 21st Century and desire high connectivity to the internet and environmentally-conscious ways to live their lives.

They are born between 1977 and 2000. They make up 25% of the population.

The Future of Millennial-Style Apartment Complexes 

Millennials own fewer cars than previous generations, so millennial complexes are ideally situated for walking or taking public transportation to shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Millennials are comfortable with efficiently designed studios and one-bedrooms. Micro kitchens are also ok as long as they contain the latest in kitchen technology.

The ideal apartment complex for millennials will include the following:

• A social room for hanging out. 
• An entertainment space with a big screen for watching movies. 
• Wellness facilities with fitness on demand videos. 
• Ground floor commercial space such as a coffee shop. 
• Digital programs that make life easier. An example is LaundryView, enabling the user to note how many washers and dryers are available and to receive a text alert when the laundry is done. 

Boston’s Millennial Villages 

For millennial renters finding an affordable space in Boston is not easy. One solution that Boston has come up with is the millennial village.

The city is proposing to build 10,000 or more small units of housing close to public transportation with shared common spaces and ground floor amenities.

Technology: The Number One Requirement for Boston Property Managers 

Property managers absolutely must be online to connect with millennial renters. A “modern” property manager understands that millennials prefer to communicate with texts or emails rather than via phone calls.

The internet is the millennials’ first-choice tool for everything from finding an apartment to ordering food delivery.

They do not look through newspapers and circle apartment listings with a magic marker so don’t place rental ads that way; instead, make use of real estate websites that can connect a searcher with your website where millennials can look at and apply for your available units online.

Once millennials become your tenants, you must make it possible for them to pay their rent and make maintenance requests online.

It’s also advantageous to showcase everything about your property that is eco-friendly on social media as millennial renters care about their environmental impact.

A Checklist for Landlords and Millennial Renters 

The following is an ideal list of what property managers need to have in place and what millennial renters should look for in an ideal apartment.

• Cable and internet accessibility, complex-wide Wi-Fi, and a multitude of indoor and outdoor electrical outlets for charging mobile devices. 
• Low-flow, water-conserving toilets, and shower heads. 
• Energy-efficient appliances and programmable thermostats. 
• Solar panels, wind power, or other sources of renewable energy. 
• Energy-saving light bulbs. 
• Good insulation to slash utility bills. 
• Recycling and composting services on site. 
• Laundry facilities and dry-cleaning drop-off/pick-up. 
• Pet-friendliness – the majority of millennials own pets. 

Why Modern Rental Units are Good for Both Landlords and Millennial Tenants 

If you are landlord interested in upgrading your rental property to attract millennials, the initial expense of modernizing your complex will pay off over time by increasing the value of your property.

Your investment in improving your building will result in happy tenants who keep renewing their leases and reducing apartment turnover.

Find a Good Professional Property Management Company 

As an experienced property management company in Boston, Premier Property Solutions understands how to manage a property with millennials in mind.

We will take over the responsibility of managing your property so that both you and your tenants are happy in a modern, well-functioning building. Please contact us to see how we can help you.

Why Property Maintenance is Important: Tenant Rights and Landlord Responsibilities in Massachusetts

If you are a Massachusetts landlord, proper maintenance of your real estate investment will keep your property in good shape and also avoid friction between you and your tenants. 

If you are a Massachusetts tenant, it is useful to know your rights so that if your landlord fails to maintain the property you are living in, you are aware if what steps you can legally take to remedy the situation.

Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, you can use this article to better understand landlord and tenant responsibilities and rights in Boston, MA. 

Why Good Property Maintenance Makes Both Parties Happy

If you are a landlord and your tenants are satisfied with the way you maintain the property they call home, they are more likely not to be late with their rent, to take care of their units, and to renew their leases. You, as a landlord, will reap the benefits of low tenant turnover (resulting in fewer vacancy days) and a more consistent cash flow.

Property Maintenance Tips for Boston Landlords

Seasonal inspections and maintenance and taking care of small problems promptly before they turn into bigger ones will save you money over the long term.

A good idea is to set aside one or two months of rent per year (more for an older property) to cover maintenance costs. If you have a vacancy, make sure the rental unit is up to code and appealing to prospective new tenants so that it rents quickly.

Your Obligations as a Massachusetts Landlord

As a landlord in Massachusetts, your responsibilities include the duty to provide the following:

• Habitable premises in good repair and free from infestation.
• Adequate heat, electricity and hot water.
• Necessary kitchen appliances in good working order.
• Good plumbing and working toilets.
• Maintenance of all exits to the property which should also be free of obstructions.

For a more detailed explanation of your duties, please consult the Massachusetts Consumer Guide to Landlord Rights and Responsibilities.

Your Rights as a Massachusetts Tenant

All tenants in Massachusetts have the legal right to live in a rental property that is kept in good condition and meets basic standards with respect to Massachusetts health and safety regulations.

If your landlord fails in his responsibilities to fix major problems, such as a broken heating system or a leaky roof, you have legal rights, including:

• Withholding rent until repairs are made.
• The right to “repair and deduct” – i.e., you can hire someone (such as an electrician or a plumber) to fix a serious defect in your rental unit (or buy what is needed to make the repair and do it yourself) and deduct the cost from your rent.

To read about your tenant rights in more detail, please click this link to the Massachusetts Consumer Guide to Tenant Rights and Responsibilities.

What Massachusetts Tenants Should Know Before Making Rent Deductions

Before deciding to withhold rent or take advantage of repair and deduct, make sure that the circumstances justify your taking the action. You need to know the following:

• What maintenance emergencies are more important than others.
• When a lack of maintenance qualifies for rent withholding or repair and deduct.
• The length of time you must give your landlord to fix the problem and what written notice to give him before you can take action.
• How much rent you may withhold or deduct, how often you can do so, and whether you need to pay the withheld amounts into an escrow account.
• What your protection is from landlord retaliation (e.g. terminating your lease, raising your rent, or locking you out of your apartment).

Remember to Check Local Boston Rules

Local housing ordinances for your particular Massachusetts town or city should be consulted for regulations covering tenant rights.

Find your local building or housing authority by contacting your mayor or city manager’s office or viewing your city or county website.

Find a Good Property Management Company in Boston

Premier Property Solutions can take all the worry about managing your Massachusetts rental property off your hands, including the handling of maintenance requests from your tenants.

We will take all the burden of maintenance off your shoulders ensuring that maintenance issues are taken care of efficiently and promptly and that you have happy tenants. Please contact us to see how we can make your life as a landlord a lot easier.