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Owners & tenants
Property Management FAQ
Answers to the questions we hear most from landlords and tenants in Metro North Boston and the North Shore.
Current tenant? Pay rent or request maintenance in the tenant portal
For owners: getting started
What does Bay State North Property Management do?
Full-service property management: tenant placement and leasing, rent collection, maintenance and repairs, and accounting, plus real estate investment management for owners growing a portfolio.
What areas do you serve?
Woburn, Burlington, Salem, Peabody, Andover, Malden, Revere, Beverly and the rest of Boston’s Metro North and North Shore, across Middlesex, Essex and Suffolk counties. See all service areas.
What types of properties do you manage?
Single-family homes, condos, 2-4 family homes and small commercial properties.
Who is on your team?
Mark Pitzi, Founder & CEO, a former CPA and realtor since 2015; Ian Estabrooks, CFO, a CFA charterholder; and Scott Bornstein, Manager of Tenancy Operations, an experienced leasing agent. Meet the team.
Do you work with real estate investors?
Yes. Mark has mentored investors as a realtor, including finding deals and analyzing cash-on-cash return, cap rates and ARV. See our real estate investment management services.
How do I get started?
Call (617) 819-2485 or request a free rental analysis through our contact form.
For owners: our services
What does tenant placement include?
Marketing your property, screening prospective tenants (credit, income, references and rental history) and preparing the lease documents. Tenant placement and leasing.
How is rent collected and reported?
Rent is collected monthly, and tenants can pay online through our Buildium tenant portal. It is reconciled and shown on your monthly owner statement. Rent collection services.
How are maintenance requests handled?
Tenants submit requests through our Buildium tenant portal, and we coordinate the work through our network of contractors, painters, plumbers and handymen. Maintenance and repairs.
Can I use my own contractors?
Yes. If you prefer to use your own contractors, you can. Just let us know.
Do you handle snow removal and lawn care?
Yes. Snow, grass, repairs and renovations are all part of the maintenance we coordinate.
What accounting reports do I get?
Monthly owner statements with rent reconciliation, expense tracking and bill pay, plus year-end 1099s and tax-ready reports. Rental property accounting.
What software do you use?
Buildium property management software, for leases, rent, expenses, bill pay and maintenance requests.
Massachusetts rental rules
Who pays the broker fee in Massachusetts?
Since August 1, 2025, the party who hires the broker pays the fee. A landlord who hires someone to market and lease a unit cannot pass that fee on to the tenant.
What can a landlord collect at move-in?
Only first month’s rent, last month’s rent, a security deposit of no more than one month’s rent, and the cost of a new lock.
How must a security deposit be held?
In a separate interest-bearing account at a Massachusetts bank, with a receipt to the tenant within 30 days, and returned, minus lawful deductions, within 30 days after the tenancy ends.
What are the heating requirements?
From September 15 to June 15, at least 68 degrees from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and 64 degrees overnight, and no more than 78 degrees.
What does the lead law require?
For a rental built before 1978, the tenant must get the Tenant Lead Law Notification form before signing the lease. If a child under six lives there, the unit must be deleaded or brought under interim control.
General information only, not legal advice. Sources on mass.gov: broker fee FAQ, security deposit rules, heating season guidance, Tenant Lead Law Notification.
For tenants
How do I log in to the tenant portal?
Use the Tenant Login link at the top of any page. It opens our Buildium tenant portal, where you can pay rent and request maintenance.
Can I pay rent online?
Yes. Log in to the Buildium tenant portal to pay rent online.
How do I request maintenance?
Log in to the Buildium tenant portal and submit a maintenance or service request. It is tracked until the work is done.
How do I reach the office?
Call (617) 819-2485.
Still Have Questions?
Call us or request a free rental analysis, and our team will be in touch.