Public housing work comes with high stakes, and the legal process is often fast-moving. From HUD updates to state sanitary codes, your team faces questions every week that call for clear answers, not guesswork. Casey, Burns & Jean-Felix, PLLC delivers practical legal education built for housing authorities, landlords, and developers across Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Drawing on the century-long legacy of Casey Lundregan Burns, P.C., we share guidance that helps your staff make sound calls, serve residents well, and stay ready for audits.
Core Legal Education Topics for Public Housing and Property Management
Our training focuses on day-to-day decisions that protect residents and support staff, while reducing risk. We review the relevant laws and policies with your staff, then explain real-world implications of how these rules impact tenant meetings, maintenance visits, and board sessions.
Fair Housing and Anti-Discrimination Laws
Our office helps your team understand the protected classes under the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA), the duties under Section 504, and how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to public programs. Our office can help guide you through the reasonable accommodation and reasonable modification process, including documentation do’s and don’ts. Massachusetts teams will learn how M.G.L. c. 151B interacts with HUD rules, while New Hampshire teams will review RSA 354-A and state enforcement paths.
Topics covered in this module include:
- Recognizing direct and indirect discrimination in screening, transfers, and terminations.
- Evaluating accommodation requests, tracking deadlines, and writing clear decisions.
- Processing assistance or service animal requests without illegal fees or extra deposits.
We also discuss recordkeeping that supports fair treatment for applicants and residents, along with simple forms your team can use right away.
Lease Enforcement and Eviction Prevention
Our attorneys help property managers write leases, house rules, and addenda that are compliant with federal and state law. We address rent collection policies, cure notices, and how to handle unauthorized occupants without creating new liability. In Massachusetts, we walk through summary process actions under M.G.L. c. 239, and in New Hampshire, we cover notices and filings under RSA 540 and 540-A.
To reduce filings, we present practical tools your team can use before court:
- Payment plan structures that respect program limits and keep units stable.
- Mediation options and settlement formats that protect subsidy and resident rights.
- Documentation habits that support consistent outcomes across properties.
Where termination is the only path, we review service rules, grievance rights for public housing, and prepare witnesses and files to set your team up for success.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Compliance
Training covers the rights of survivors, required notices, emergency transfers, and the types of proof that can be accepted. We help your team create policies that protect privacy, guard against wrongful lease actions, and keep families housed when violence affects rent payment or tenancy. We help prepare your team for sensitive conversations, so residents are treated with respect, and your team takes steps to prevent liability.
Board of Commissioners Duties and Ethics
We provide guidance to commissioners on fiduciary duties, budget review, and ethical decision-making under the Massachusetts conflict of interest law, M.G.L. c. 268A, or New Hampshire ethics rules. We train teams on Open Meeting Law in Massachusetts, and the Right-to-Know Law, RSA 91-A, in New Hampshire, including notice, minutes, and executive session rules. A core theme is role clarity, policy setting by the board, and day-to-day administration by staff.
Procurement and Contract Management
We train executives and procurement staff on how to run fair competitions, evaluate proposals, and select vendors lawfully. In Massachusetts, we address M.G.L. c. 30B for supplies and services, public construction requirements under c. 149 and c. 30, 39M, and related thresholds. We also review federal regulations, conflict checks, and mandatory clauses to ensure your team maintains compliant contract files from award to closeout.
How Casey, Burns & Jean-Felix, PLLC Assists Clients
We serve housing authorities, landlords, and developers across both states with programs that fit busy schedules. Our goal is simple: give your team tools they can use the very next day.
Customized On-Site and Virtual Seminars
We review your team’s size, structure, and location, then shape content to fit your needs. Sessions are available in person or virtually across Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
To help with planning, here are common seminar builds:
- Half-day focus sessions on one topic, like VAWA or procurement thresholds.
- Full-day bootcamps that blend fair housing, leasing, and file reviews.
- Quarterly refreshers that track federal updates and recent state cases.
We supply slides, checklists, and sample forms. Even after the session ends, our team is available for follow-up questions that may arise in real-world situations.
Policy Review and Implementation
Before training, we review your policies, screening rules, and internal workflows so the session reflects your reality. We then help update your policies so new legal requirements are implemented in handbooks, notices, and templates used in the field.
This approach lessens confusion, keeps messaging steady, and reduces repeated mistakes across departments.
Interactive Scenarios and Practical Applications
Real case studies help the rules stick, especially for maintenance and property staff who are often on the front lines of resident interaction. We walk through scripts, role-play common disputes, and test documentation steps. These sessions build confidence and lower the chance of costly violations or grievances.
Common Challenges in Public Housing Administration
Housing teams juggle federal and state rules, local codes, and resident needs, all at once. Files must be clean, and decisions must be consistent, even on busy days.
Identifying Administrative Hurdles
Frequent guidance changes, complex sanitary code issues like those in 105 CMR 410 in Massachusetts, and a steady stream of accommodation requests can strain staff. Screening that weighs community safety and second chances is hard, especially with CORI review. Add contractor oversight, and many agencies feel stretched thin.
Our training gives your team a simple roadmap, from intake to termination, with checkpoints that reduce missteps.
Frequently Asked Questions About Housing Authority Education
Agencies ask similar questions at the start of our programs. Here are clear answers that help with planning.
Who should attend these legal educational sessions?
Commissioners, executive directors, property managers, and maintenance staff can all benefit from training tailored to their role. When everyone gets the same training, your files look cleaner, meetings run better, and you reduce liability.
We can run mixed sessions or track-based breakouts so each group gets exactly what they need.
Are the programs tailored to Massachusetts and New Hampshire-specific laws?
Yes, we adjust content to local regulations, state sanitary codes, and tenant rights for each state. That approach supports owners and authorities who operate near the border or manage properties in both states.
Your team walks away with state-ready forms and steps, not just general talk.
How often should housing authority staff undergo legal education?
Federal and state case law is constantly evolving, which means staff benefit from regular sessions. Many clients pick annual refreshers, while larger agencies schedule training every other year for boards and supervisors, then add short updates for frontline staff.
We also offer short check-ins after major federal or state changes.
Strengthen Your Team With Practical Legal Training
Housing authority staff need training that is clear, current, and grounded in the realities of daily operations. Casey, Burns & Jean-Felix, PLLC works with housing authorities to develop legal training programs that fit the needs of your team, your schedule, and your compliance responsibilities.
If you want to build a training program for your staff, call 978-878-3519 or visit our Contact Us page to schedule a consultation. Our team carries forward the tradition of Casey Lundregan Burns, P.C., with a long-standing commitment to ethical service, practical guidance, and support that helps housing professionals lead with confidence.