[Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Brookline 11-18-2025 STM by Art. 9. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The following definitions apply to this Chapter 8.46 exclusively:
AGENT OF THE TOWN
Any employee, agent, or elected or appointed official of the Town acting in their official capacity as a process server.
NOTICE TO QUIT
Any written notice sent to a tenant seeking to terminate the tenant's tenancy.
STATEMENT OF TENANTS' RIGHTS AND RESOURCES or THE STATEMENT
The statement described in Section 8.46.2 below.
TENANCY
Occupation or use of a dwelling unit under an express or implied rental agreement, including through a lease.
TENANT
A person who inhabits a dwelling unit under an express or implied rental agreement, including through a lease.
The Select Board, through the Office of Housing Stability and/or such other body as the Select Board may from time to time designate, shall create — and no later than August 1 of each year, if necessary, update — a Statement of Tenants' Rights and Resources, such statement to include, inter alia, and at the discretion of the Select Board:
A. 
A description of tenants' rights under Massachusetts General Law and Town by-law, descriptions of tenant protections, eviction processes, and the rights of tenants to safe and habitable housing.
B. 
Information on (a) potential sources of financial assistance, (b) housing stability programs, and (c) emergency resources, available to tenants through the Town, local nonprofits and service providers, and state agencies.
C. 
Information on obtaining legal and inspectional assistance related to housing issues.
A. 
Whenever any individual agent of the Town participates in the delivery of a notice to quit or any other notice of an eviction-related proceeding to a tenant, they shall, on behalf of the Town, cause to be delivered a copy of the statement to the recipient of such notice, either in hand or by leaving a copy thereof at the recipient's last known and usual address and by first-class mail to the same address. The requirements of this section shall apply only to the delivery of the first such notice, by such agent of the Town, of any such proceeding.
B. 
Brookline Constables shall be exempt from mandatory compliance with this provision.
This by-law shall take effect 120 days following approval by the Office of the Attorney General, but no earlier than August 1, 2026.
If any provision of this by-law or application thereof is held to be invalid or in conflict with applicable laws, this invalidity or conflict shall not affect other provisions or applications of this by-law which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications, and to this end, the provisions and applications of this by-law are severable.