AI HOA Assistant for Boston Condo Associations
Built for Boston condo managers operating under the Massachusetts Condominium Act (MGL Ch. 183A) — 78% condo ownership rate downtown. From historic Back Bay brownstones to Seaport high-rises, IgeraFincas delivers citation-grade compliance answers around the clock. Free 14-day trial.
Boston's condo association landscape by the numbers
684K
city residents / 4.9M metro area population
3,800+
condo associations in the Boston area
195K
condos in HOA-governed communities
$400–$900
typical monthly condo fee in Boston
Boston is one of the most condo-dense cities in the United States. With 78% condo ownership downtown and a market defined by historic brownstone conversions, luxury high-rises, and student-area mid-rises, managing compliance under MGL Ch. 183A is both high-stakes and high-volume. IgeraFincas is purpose-built to handle it.
Massachusetts Condominium Act (MGL Ch. 183A) — plain English
The law governing every condo association in Boston — from the Fenway to the Financial District
Unit ownership & common interest
Each unit owner holds fee simple title to their unit plus an undivided percentage interest in common areas defined in the master deed. The percentage interest determines voting weight and the share of common expenses each owner owes. In Boston brownstone conversions, this percentage is typically based on floor area ratio. IgeraFincas answers ownership boundary questions by reading your specific master deed.
Condo fee liens & super-priority status
MGL Ch. 183A §6 gives Boston condo associations a statutory lien on any unit for unpaid common charges. Critically, Massachusetts grants super-priority lien status for up to six months of unpaid fees — meaning the association's claim ranks ahead of a first mortgage. This is one of the strongest lien positions in the country and makes fee collection enforcement highly effective.
Board powers & rule-making authority
Under MGL Ch. 183A §5, the organization of unit owners (the association) is responsible for managing common areas, setting the annual budget, levying assessments, and adopting rules governing use of units and common elements. Board decisions must follow the declaration of trust and master deed. Major changes — including amendments and special assessments — typically require a two-thirds supermajority.
Annual meetings & owner voting rights
MGL Ch. 183A §10 requires at least one annual meeting of unit owners per year with a minimum of 7 days written notice. Owners vote in proportion to their undivided interest percentage. Boston associations must maintain accurate owner rolls and distribute meeting notices to all units of record. IgeraFincas tracks notice obligations and quorum thresholds for each community automatically.
Short-term rental ordinance & permit requirements
Boston requires all short-term rental operators to obtain a City license and limits rentals to owner-occupied units or adjacent units only. Combined with MGL Ch. 183A §5 authority to restrict rental use, Boston condo associations have two independent compliance layers for Airbnb/VRBO enforcement. IgeraFincas applies both the state law and city ordinance when answering short-term rental questions.
Fair Housing Act & FNMA lending standards
Federal law applies on top of MGL Ch. 183A: the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 3601–3619) requires Boston associations to grant reasonable accommodations for disabilities. FNMA and Freddie Mac condo approval requirements — reserve fund thresholds, delinquency limits, and owner-occupancy ratios — directly affect resale eligibility for Boston condo units and must be tracked alongside state law compliance.
The pain points Boston condo managers face every week
Brownstone conversion document chaos
Many Boston condo associations were created from 19th-century row house conversions with master deeds drafted decades ago. Common element boundaries are ambiguous, percentage interests are disputed, and unit owners constantly ask who is responsible for shared walls, roofs, and utilities. Managers spend hours deciphering outdated legal documents for every routine question.
Super-priority lien enforcement complexity
Boston associations have powerful lien rights under MGL Ch. 183A §6, but exercising them requires following precise legal procedures. Managers struggle to explain the process to boards, communicate deadlines to delinquent owners, and coordinate with lenders who may not understand Massachusetts super-priority status — leading to delayed collections and unnecessary legal fees.
Student-area rental and Airbnb enforcement
Boston's university density — MIT, Harvard, BU, Northeastern — creates intense short-term rental pressure in Fenway, Allston, and Mission Hill associations. Managers must juggle MGL Ch. 183A §5 rule-making authority, the Boston STR ordinance, and lease-verification processes across dozens of units, generating a constant stream of owner inquiries and enforcement disputes.
How IgeraFincas works for Boston condo managers
Upload your governing documents
Master deed, declaration of trust, rules and regulations, meeting minutes, reserve studies. IgeraFincas processes every PDF — including scanned brownstone-era documents via OCR — and makes them instantly searchable. Operational in under 48 hours for any Boston association.
MGL Ch. 183A applied automatically
IgeraFincas is pre-loaded with the Massachusetts Condominium Act, the Boston short-term rental ordinance, and relevant federal overlay law. Every answer cites the exact statute section and the specific clause in your master deed or declaration of trust — never generic advice.
Owners get answers 24/7, complex issues escalate
Unit owners query the widget or WhatsApp at any hour. Routine questions are answered instantly with cited sources. Legal disputes, enforcement actions, and special assessment votes are flagged to your team with full context — so you respond informed, not cold.
Commonwealth Ave Condo Trust
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Can the association put a lien on my unit for unpaid fees?
Yes. Under MGL Ch. 183A §6, the association has a statutory lien on your unit for any unpaid common charges. In Massachusetts, this lien has super-priority status over your first mortgage for up to six months of unpaid fees. The association must record the lien at the Registry of Deeds and provide notice before proceeding to foreclosure.
Sources: MGL Ch. 183A §6 · Declaration of Trust §8.2
Customer testimonial
“We manage 34 associations across Back Bay, Beacon Hill, and the South End. Before IgeraFincas, our team fielded 60+ owner calls a week about fee obligations, repair responsibilities, and meeting rights. Now owners get MGL Ch. 183A answers directly from the widget at midnight. Our staff handles the cases that actually need us. It's changed how we run the business.”
Sarah M., Senior Property Manager
Beacon Property Management — Boston, MA
Pricing for Boston management companies
Simple per-month plans. No setup fees. Cancel anytime. All plans include MGL Ch. 183A pre-loaded and a free 14-day trial.
STARTER
$99
per month
- ✓Up to 10 communities
- ✓MGL Ch. 183A pre-loaded
- ✓Web widget for each community
- ✓Document upload (PDF/DOCX)
- ✓Email support
MOST POPULAR
PROFESSIONAL
$199
per month
- ✓Up to 40 communities
- ✓MGL Ch. 183A + federal law
- ✓Web widget + WhatsApp
- ✓Analytics dashboard
- ✓Custom branding per community
- ✓Priority support
ENTERPRISE
$399
per month
- ✓Unlimited communities
- ✓Multi-state law coverage
- ✓Web widget + WhatsApp + API
- ✓Advanced analytics + gap detection
- ✓Custom system prompts per community
- ✓Dedicated onboarding manager
- ✓SLA guarantee
Frequently asked questions — Boston
What does the Massachusetts Condominium Act (MGL Ch. 183A) require for condo association meetings?
Under MGL Ch. 183A §10, Boston condo associations must hold an annual meeting of unit owners and provide at least 7 days written notice. The master deed and declaration of trust typically set specific quorum requirements. Major decisions — including amendments to governing documents and special assessments — require a supermajority vote as specified under MGL Ch. 183A §5. IgeraFincas tracks your specific quorum thresholds and notice deadlines.
How does MGL Ch. 183A govern reserve funds for Boston condo associations?
Massachusetts does not mandate a specific reserve fund percentage under MGL Ch. 183A, but the statute requires the organization of unit owners to maintain common areas and keep the property in good repair. Most Boston condo associations establish reserve funds through their declaration of trust. Separately, FNMA and Freddie Mac lending guidelines require reserves equal to at least 10% of the annual budget for condo units to qualify for conventional mortgages — which affects resale values in Boston's competitive market.
Can a Boston condo association restrict short-term rentals under MGL Ch. 183A?
Yes. Under MGL Ch. 183A §5(b), the master deed and rules and regulations may restrict or prohibit short-term rentals including Airbnb and VRBO listings. Massachusetts law gives Boston condo associations broad authority to regulate unit use through properly adopted rules. The City of Boston also requires short-term rental operators to register and obtain a license under the Boston Short-Term Rental Ordinance — and limits rentals to owner-occupied or adjacent units, providing an additional enforcement layer for associations.
What are the lien and foreclosure rights of Boston condo associations under MGL Ch. 183A §6?
Under MGL Ch. 183A §6, a Boston condo association has a statutory lien on a unit for unpaid common charges and assessments. This lien has super-priority status over first mortgages for up to six months of unpaid common charges — one of the strongest lien positions in the United States. The association may enforce the lien through foreclosure under the same procedures applicable to mortgages. IgeraFincas explains the full process and notice requirements to boards and owners on demand.
How does MGL Ch. 183A handle alterations and improvements to Boston condo units?
Under MGL Ch. 183A §4, unit owners hold their units in fee simple plus an undivided interest in common areas. Alterations affecting common elements or adjacent units require board approval under §5 and the association's rules. Boston also requires building permits from the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) for any structural changes, MEP work, or changes of use. The master deed defines the boundary between the unit and common elements — which determines what modifications require association consent vs. what owners may do independently.
Start your free 14-day trial
Operational in 48 hours. MGL Ch. 183A pre-loaded. No credit card required.
- Free 14-day trial — no credit card required
- Massachusetts Condominium Act (MGL Ch. 183A) pre-loaded
- Works via web widget and WhatsApp — no app install
- Handles historic brownstones to modern high-rises