September 13, 2025
No more junk in trunk!
Dear Clients, Colleagues and Friends:
We hope you had a wonderful summer and that all are safely back to school! Per usual, the DVD team skipped the beach to keep an eye on important developments in the real estate management space. As such we want to bring a few important items to your attention.
No more junk in trunk!
Massachusetts is escalating its war on so-called “junk fees.” Beginning September 2, 2025, the Attorney General’s new regulations (940 CMR 38.00) took effect — and they directly impact property managers and landlords across the state.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Full Price Disclosure
You must “clearly and conspicuously” disclose the Total Price (rent plus all fees, charges, or required expenses). This includes items such as parking, pet rent, insurance, and even utilities. The Total Price must be more prominent than any other rent figure.They are still allowing you to advertise the Total Price on a monthly basis, but you must disclose the full rent term.
Yay! / sarcasm. 😒
2. Timing Matters
Disclosures must be made immediately —in both the initial and final presentation of the rental — before atenant provides any personal information.
3. Optional Fees & Waivers
Any fees that are optional or waivable must be clearly marked as such, with instructions on how tenants can opt out.
4. Auto-Renewals Now Regulated
Self-renewing leases (negative options) face new rules. You must give tenants a simple way to decline renewal, and notify them of their opt-out rights between 30 and 5 days before the renewal deadline.
⚠️ Why this matters to you: ⚠️
Non-compliance could expose your company to significant legal and financial risk.
At Downing Van Dyke, we help property managers get ahead of these regulatory shifts. We can:
- Review your advertising and lease forms for compliance,
- Draft legally sound disclosures and opt-out mechanisms, and
- Ensure your marketing practices won’t trigger AG enforcement.
👉 Regulations are here
Safeguard your operations and schedule a consultation or call us today
Please contact us with any questions or concerns about all these changes. We’re here to help you navigate the ever-changing property management landscape!
