1. Bed Bugs
Lund v. Tessier, Housing Court Docket No. 12-CV-00852 (Chaplin, J., 2013) (awarding 50% rent abatement for bedbug infestation.); Maher v. GaCosta, Housing Court Docket No. 07-SP-01205 (Chaplin , J., 2007) (awarding 50% rent abatement for bedbug infestation and 10% abatement for other conditions); Shepton Realty Trust v. Smith, Housing Court Docket No. 06-SP-404089 (Chaplin, J., 2006) (awarding 40% rent abatement for bedbug infestation).
2. Broken Thermostat
Gao v. Alpha Mgt. & Faisal, Docket No. 15-SC-0091 (Muirhead, J., 5/18/16)( 15% abatement for improper thermostat)
3. Doors
Cuatodio v. Snyder, Western Housing Court Docket No.: No. 14-CV-200 (Fields, March 24, 2016) (2% for missing closet door.); Daemco, LLC, v. Barnes, Worcester Housing Court Docket No. 15-SP-02846 (Dalton, J., December 31, 2015) (1% for defective condition of the front door, including the need for a storm door and a screen door.)
4. Fan
Cuatodio v. Snyder, Western Housing Court Docket No.: No. 14-CV-200 (Fields, March 24, 2016) (5% abatement for the bathroom fan.)
5. Faulty Electrical Outlets
Cranberry Highway Estates v. Zavalcofsky, Housing Court Docket No. 06-SP-6058 (2007) (Awarding tenant 5% for faulty electrical outlets).
6. Homelessness
Gladu v. Farrick, Docket No. 02-CV-0111 (Abrashkin, J., 2002) (Awarded $200 a day for homelessness); Rosario v. Rivera, 06-SP-1090 (Fein, J., 2006) (Awarded $15,000 for 87 days of homelessness in a lockout).
7. Insufficient water
Cranberry Highway Estates v. Zavalcofsky, Housing Court Docket No. 06-SP-6058 (2007) (10% for insufficient hot water); Haddad v Pena, Housing Court No. 97-SP-01114 (Winik, J.,11/26/1997)( 50% Abatement for no heat/hot water); Cuatodio v. Snyder, Western Housing Court Docket No.: No. 14-CV-200 (Fields, March 24, 2016) (80% for the lack of water (caused by sewage backup.)
8. Lack of Sufficient Heat
Gao v. Alpha Mgt. & Faisal, Docket No. 15-SC-0091 (Muirhead, J., 5/18/16) (25% abatement for insufficient heat); Daemco, LLC, v. Barnes, Worcester Housing Court Docket No. 15-SP-02846 (Dalton, J., December 31, 2015) (5% for non-functional propane stove/heater in the sunroom for the part of the heating season.)
9. Lead Paint
Sycamore Land Corp. v. Thompson, Southeast Housing Court Docket No. 11-SP-02353 (Chaplin, J., 1/25/1994)(15 % Abatement for lead paint).
10. Leaking & Water Damage
Cranberry Highway Estates v. Zavalcofsky, Housing Court Docket No. 06-SP-6058 (2007) (Awarding tenant 10% for leaking sink); Rijo v. Idusuyl, Western Housing Court No. 16-SP-4714 (Fields, J., December 22, 2016) (10% abatement for leaking shower); Samia v. Floyd, Housing Court Docket No. 96-SP-03964 (Winik, J., 1997)(5% Abatement for Cosmetic water damage. Also awarded $425 for breach of implied warranty of habitability); Shays v. Garcia, Worcester Housing Court Docket No. 16-SP-2445 (Theophilis, J., July, 2016) (50% abatement for ongoing leaks, the collapsed ceilings in the kitchen and bathroom and the inoperable toilet).
11. Leaking Ceiling
Lund v. Tessier, Housing Court Docket No. 12-CV-00852 (Chaplin, J., 2013) (awarding 15% for leaking ceiling); Cranberry Highway Estates v. Zavalcofsky, Housing Court Docket No. 06-SP-6058 (2007) (Awarding tenant 30% rent abatement for leaking ceiling); Bronhard v. Talbot, Housing Court Docket No. 07-SP-00642 (2008) (Awarding tenant 40% rent abatement for leaking ceiling); Quinn v. Borges, Housing Court Docket No. 06-SP-5029 (2006) (Granting tenant a 20% rent abatement for leaking ceiling and 50% rent abatement for property clutter and presence of asbestos in basement); Structures, Inc. vs. Rashti, Boston Housing Court, No. 98-05475(Winik, J.,November 10, 1998) (50% abatement for significant water leakage.)
12. Mold
Bronhard v. Talbot, Housing Court Docket No. 07-SP-00642 (2008) (Awarding tenant 20% for presence of mold).
13. No Smoke or Carbon Monoxide detector
Gao v. Alpha Mgt. & Faisal, Docket No. 15-SC-0091 (Muirhead, J., 5/18/16) (10% abatement for lack of detectors); Krasowski v. Alexis, Docket NO. 97-05984 (Winik, J., 2/12/1998) (Defect reduced fair market value by $10 a month ($650 - $640) for no smoke detector).
14. Rodents
Kim v. Wilson, Housing Court 09-SP-1304 (Muirhead, J., 10/20/09 and 10/26/09) (tenant entitled to 20% abatement for claims of rodents and electrical problems; damages of three months rent for interference with quiet enjoyment exceeded abatement and awarded); Powers v Gill, Housing Court Docket No. 16-SP-2238 (Muirhead, J., 7/20/16) (25% abatement for rodents.); Fall River HA v. Gutkowski, Housing Court Docket No.14-SP04443 (Edwards, J., 5/13/2016) (60% abatement for rodents, green mold and floating tub. Abatement not broken down.); Haddad v. Pena, No. 97-SP-01114 (Winik, J.,11/26/1997)( 5% Abatement rodents); Shays v. Garcia, Worcester Housing Court Docket No. 16-SP-2445 (Theophilis, J., July, 2016) (additional 10% abatement for severe rodent infestation at the premises.)
15. Stairs & Porch
Sarno v Ingalls, (8/21/2009) ( 15% abatement for a defective porch.); Cuatodio v. Snyder, Western Housing Court Docket No.: No. 14-CV-200 (Fields, March 24, 2016) (2% for the loose handrail); Daemco, LLC, v. Barnes, Worcester Housing Court Docket No. 15-SP-02846 (Dalton, J., December 31, 2015) (5% for unsafe side Entry Stairs.)
16. Stove & Dishwasher
Lund v. Tessier, Housing Court Docket No. 12-CV-00852 (Chaplin, J., 2013) (awarding 10% for broken stove); Rozantes v. Brown, et al., Housing Court Docket No.16-SP-507 (Muirhead, J., 3/10/16) ($1,000 abatement, for inoperable stove no percentage given.); Cuatodio v. Snyder, Western Housing Court Docket No.: No. 14-CV-200 (Fields, March 24, 2016) (5% for the non-functioning dishwasher.); Daemco, LLC, v. Barnes, Worcester Housing Court Docket No. 15-SP-02846 (Dalton, J., December 31, 2015) (5% for Defective Stove/Oven).
17. Toilet
Shays v. Garcia, Worcester Housing Court Docket No. 16-SP-2445 (Theophilis, J., July, 2016) (50% abatement for ongoing leaks, the collapsed ceilings in the kitchen and bathroom and the inoperable toilet); Cuatodio v. Snyder, Western Housing Court Docket No.: No. 14-CV-200 (Fields, March 24, 2016) (5% for the loose toilet.)
18. Uninhabitable
Where an apartment is uninhabitable and/or contains substantial defects, the percentage abatement may be 100%. McKenna v. Begin, 5 Mass. App. Ct. 304, 362 N.E.2d 548, 554 (1977) (concurrence); McKenna v. Begin, 3 Mass. App. Ct. 168, 325 N.E.2d 587, 591 (1975); Boston Housing Authority v. Hemingway, 363 Mass. 184, 293 N.E.2d 831, 844 (1973); Allard v. Campbell, Northeast Housing Court Docket No. 92-SP-346 (Kerman, J., 10/6/91) (100% abatement for two months where severe infestation of cockroaches and rodents, filthy toilet, thick fungal growth near shoer, electrical wiring improper and inadequate and dangerous fire escape); Museum Square Apts. v. Martinez, Housing Court No. 94-SP-1893, Northeast (Kerman, J., 3/20/96) (100 percent abatement for 5 months where significant flooding of apartment); Greco v. Dieulie, Somerville District Court No. 9510-CV-529 (Coven, J., 1995) (100 percent abatement for 5 months due to serious cockroach infestation and lack of heat). See also FNMA v. Snow, Worcester Housing Court Docket No. 13-SP-161 (Sullivan, J., 4/25/13) (100% abatement, no description as to why); Haddad v. Pena, No. 97-SP-01114 (Winik, J.,11/26/1997)( 100% Abatement for no water).
19. Windows, Screens and Blinds
Bronhard v. Talbot, Southeastern Housing Court Docket No. 07-SP-00642 (2008) (Awarding tenant 15% for non-weather-tight windows); Haddad v Pena, Housing Court No. 97-SP-01114 (Winik, J.,11/26/1997)(5% and 15% Abatement for drafty windows); Kennaway v. DePerrio, Worcester Housing Court Docket No. 16-SP-2112 (Theophelis, J., July, 2016) (10% abatement for malfunctioning windows and lack of screens); Cuatodio v. Snyder, Western Housing Court Docket No.: No. 14-CV-200 (Fields, March 24, 2016) (2% for the nonfunctioning Venetian blind.); Daemco, LLC, v. Barnes, Worcester Housing Court Docket No. 15-SP-02846 (Dalton, J., December 31, 2015) (1% for three windows which did not have locks.)