Tim's summary of just cause eviction law

There will be city run mediation on any rent increase over 5% and on every lease expiration or renewal where there are any changes to the rental agreement. Any time that happens the landlord has to file paperwork with the City of Boston. Mediation can then be required. There are many grounds for dismissal. The results are not mandatory unless the landlord makes a mistake. Mistakes could include: not being able to prove compliance with everything in section 6 of the law, or failure to follow the procedures in any of 20 other some odd laws or municipal ordinances, a problem with the wording on the paperwork, or a challenge to the landlord's dominant motive or good faith. If mediation happens and the tenant wins and the landlord decides not to honor it, if he doesn't file the mediation certificate jsut so he can be liable for damages, lawyers fees and months rent. The process would start 30 days before the end of the lease, mediation would likely start after the lease had already expired and the whole process would likely take months.