The Senior Security Ordinance for Elderly/Disabled Housing was passed in 1989 by the City Council. The Inspectional Services Department Housing Division administers compliance with the requirements of this Ordinance, and we work along with the Boston Police Department to accomplish this. This ordinance seeks to ensure, maintain and improve the security of tenants in Elderly and Disabled Housing Developments.
The Housing Division regularly holds administrative hearings at the request of affected parties to hear questions, concerns or to otherwise work with landlords and occupants to ensure that code requirements are met.
The Housing Code (State Sanitary Code 105 CMR 410) section 254 and 354 requires that when tenants pay for electricity or gas, that gas or electricity must only serve that tenant's apartment. Tenants should not be required to pay for electricity or gas that supplies other apartments or the common area. However, tenants can agree in writing to pay for common area lights, provided that the other occupants are notified. Violations of these requirements are referred to as "cross metering".
A housing inspector must determine if cross metering exists. Inspectors try to identify items improperly connected to your meter and will document their findings in a written citation to the property owner. A copy of that citation is mailed to tenants seven days after the inspection.
220 CMR 29.05: A tenant customer, within 60 days of receipt of a Sanitary Code citation pursuant to 105 CMR 410.354 and/or 105 CMR 410.254, shall provide the utility company with a copy of the citation and shall inform the utility company of the name and current address of the property owner subject to the citation. A tenant's failure to do this will bar them from obtaining a refund pursuant to 220 CMR 29.00.
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