Bill
H 3910
Allows Somerville to enact a right-to-purchase for tenants and approved groups when homes are sold, giving them first chance to buy and preserve affordable housing.
Status / Key dates
- House bill H.3910 (filed 3/6/2025; presented 3/17/2025).
- Passed both chambers unanimously (House and Senate roll calls show no recorded opposition).
- Signed by the Governor: May 13, 2025.
- Effective: May 13, 2025 (recorded as Act No. 54, May 19, 2025).
Purpose
- Authorizes the City of Somerville to adopt a local ordinance that gives certain tenants, tenant associations, the City, and City-designated nonprofit or land-trust entities a formal opportunity (a “right to purchase”) to acquire residential property in Somerville when that property is being offered for sale. The stated goals are to preserve affordable housing, increase tenant stability, and protect the general welfare of Somerville residents.
Scope and legal nature
- This Act is an authorization for a local ordinance: it does not itself directly change ownership rights statewide but empowers Somerville to adopt detailed local rules that must contain substantially the same language as this Act and may include additional consistent provisions.
Key definitions (selected)
- Covered property: residential property in Somerville that is subject to the Act (some exemptions are referenced but are in a later section).
- Tenant: a person/household with a written lease or who pays and has had rent accepted and resides in the unit at the time of notification. Multiple tenants of a unit each may exercise rights.
- Tenant Association: an unincorporated organization representing tenants in a building or package of buildings with at least 35% tenant participation (sign-up on a city form).
- City Designee / Tenant Association Designee: nonprofit organizations, public land trusts, or a tenant cooperative selected to acquire and maintain properties as affordable housing (subject to deed restrictions).
Major provisions (process highlights)
- Notification requirement: When an owner accepts a bona fide offer to purchase a covered property, the owner must, within two (2) business days, notify the City and every tenant (by hand delivery and U.S. mail) that (a) the property is being sold, (b) a bona fide offer was received, and (c) the owner is offering the property to the Tenant, Tenant Association, Tenant Association Designee, the City, or the City Designee at the price specified in the bona fide offer. Notification must include the City’s summary and forms.
- Right to make initial offers: Tenants, tenant associations, tenant designees, the City, and the City designee may make initial offers whether or not another offer already exists. If the City or City designee makes an initial offer, tenants (or their designees) retain the same purchase rights and are given priority over the City/City designee.
- Condominium conversions: If a unit sale triggers Somerville’s existing Condominium/Cooperative Conversion Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2019‑06), that conversion ordinance governs instead of this right-to-purchase process for that unit.
- Tenant statement of interest (example): For a unit sold as an individual condominium, tenants must notify the owner and City of interest within a specified period (the text references 15 business days) using a city-approved form. (The bill text provided is truncated; the city ordinance will set full timelines and mechanics.)
Who is affected
- Owners of residential property in Somerville (subject to exemptions in the ordinance).
- Tenants and tenant associations in properties offered for sale.
- Local government (City of Somerville) and designated nonprofits or land trusts that may acquire properties for affordable housing.
- Potential purchasers and real estate market participants dealing with covered properties in Somerville (may affect timing and sale process).
Practical effects and considerations
- Provides tenants and affiliated nonprofit purchasers an orderly opportunity to purchase housing being sold—similar in effect to a right of first refusal/right-to-purchase mechanism used in other local affordable‑housing programs.
- Could help preserve units as long‑term affordable housing if the City or designee acquires and deed‑restricts properties.
- Adds procedural steps and timelines to some residential sales in Somerville; owners must comply with notification requirements and may need to treat certain tenant or city purchase attempts as part of the sale process.
- Detailed procedures (exact timelines, exemptions, remedies for violations, purchase mechanics, financing provisions, and any compensation or good‑faith negotiation rules) are to be set in the local ordinance that the City adopts pursuant to this Act. The provided bill text is truncated; consult the final local ordinance or the full Act text (Act No. 54) for complete procedures and any exemptions.
Where to find the full text
- The enacted language is recorded as Act No. 54 (May 2025). For complete statutory language and the adopted Somerville ordinance, check the Massachusetts Acts and Resolves database and the City of Somerville’s municipal code/ordinances.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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