Public housing work comes with high stakes and fast-moving rules. 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, support staff, and reduce risk. We cover law and policy, then move straight into how those rules play out during tenant meetings, maintenance visits, and board sessions.
Fair Housing and Anti-Discrimination Laws
We teach the protected classes under the federal Fair Housing Act, the duties under Section 504, and how ADA Title II applies to public programs. We explain reasonable accommodations, reasonable modifications, and proper handling of assistance animals, including documentation do’s and don’ts. Massachusetts teams learn how M.G.L. c. 151B interacts with HUD rules, while New Hampshire teams 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 animal requests without illegal fees or extra deposits.
We also discuss recordkeeping that supports fair treatment across applicants and residents, along with simple forms your team can use right away.
Lease Enforcement and Eviction Prevention
Our attorneys show property managers how to write compliant leases, house rules, and addenda that match HUD handbooks 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 a summary process 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, hearing rights for public housing, and how to prepare witnesses and files in a clean, organized way.
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 set policies that protect privacy, guard against wrongful lease actions, and keep families housed when violence affects rent payment or tenancy. Frontline staff practice scripts for sensitive conversations, so residents are treated with respect and the file reflects lawful steps.
Board of Commissioners Duties and Ethics
Commissioners receive guidance 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 discuss 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
Executives and procurement staff learn 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 HUD expectations, conflict checks, mandatory clauses, and clean 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 size, structure, and locations, then shape content to fit your people and properties. Sessions are available in person across Massachusetts and New Hampshire, or live online if travel is tough. Many clients mix formats so all shifts and sites can attend.
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 HUD updates and recent state cases.
We supply slides, checklists, and sample forms, then stay available for follow-up questions.
Policy Review and Implementation
Before training, we scan your eligibility standards, screening rules, and internal workflows. That way the session reflects your forms and your reality. We then help write updates so new legal requirements show up in handbooks, notices, and templates used in the field.
This approach cuts confusion, keeps messaging steady, and reduces repeat mistakes across departments.
Interactive Scenarios and Practical Applications
Real case studies make the rules stick, especially for maintenance and property staff who deal with tough conversations. 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 HUD 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 HUD guidance changes, complex sanitary code issues like 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 criminal history 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.
Proactive Risk Management Tips
Good records help defend fair decisions and speed audits. Consider building routines like these into your daily work:
- Keep a central log of tenant communications, maintenance requests, and accommodation decisions.
- Use written protocols for hoarding, clutter, pest control access, and emotional support animal approvals.
- Schedule periodic file spot-checks to catch missing notices or expired verifications.
Small habits save time later and support steady treatment across your portfolio.
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 all benefit from training built for their role. When everyone hears the same rules, your files look cleaner, meetings run better, and fewer issues turn into hearings.
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?
HUD updates and state case law change frequently, which means staff benefits 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.