Gloucester, Mass., Code of Ordinances ch. 27 (2026) § 27-1

As used in this chapter, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
Condominium unit means a unit in a housing condominium as that term is defined in M.G.L. c. 183A.
Condominium or cooperative conversion eviction means an eviction of a tenant for the purpose of removing such tenant from a housing accommodation in order to facilitate the initial sale and transfer of legal title to that housing accommodation as a condominium or cooperative unit to a prospective purchaser or an eviction of a tenant by any other person who has purchased a housing accommodation as a condominium or cooperative unit when the tenant whose eviction is sought was a resident of the housing accommodation at the time the notice of intent to convert is given to convert the building or buildings to the condominium or cooperative form of ownership pursuant to section 27-2 hereafter; provided, however, that the eviction of a tenant for nonpayment of rent or other violation of a rental agreement shall in no event be deemed a condominium or cooperative conversion eviction.
Cooperative unit means a unit in a housing cooperative which has been organized under the provisions of general laws including, without limitation, the provisions of M.G.L. c. 156B, 157 or 157B.
Elderly tenant means a tenant who is a person or group of persons residing in the same housing accommodation any of whom has reached the age of 62 years or over as of the date of receipt of the notice provided for hereunder.
Handicapped tenant means a person entitled to occupy a housing accommodation who is physically handicapped, as defined in M.G.L. c. 22, § 13A, as of the date of receipt of the notice provided for hereunder.
Housing accommodation means any building, structure, or part thereof or land appurtenant thereto including buildings containing fewer than four housing accommodations, or any other real or personal property rented or offered for rent for living or dwelling purposes, together with all services connected with the use or occupancy of such property, but not including the following: (1)
Housing accommodations which the United States or the commonwealth or any authority created under the laws thereof either owns or operates;
(2) Housing accommodations in any hospital, convent, monastery, asylum, public institution or college or school dormitory operated exclusively for charitable or educational purposes or in any nursing or rest home for the aged;
(3) Housing accommodations in hotels, motels, inns, tourist homes, and roominghouses and boardinghouses which are occupied by transient guests staying for a period of fewer than 14 consecutive calendar days;
(4) Housing accommodations constructed or converted from a nonhousing to a housing use after the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived;
(5) Housing accommodations which were constructed or substantially rehabilitated pursuant to any federal mortgage insurance program, without any interest subsidy or tenant subsidy attached thereto; or
(6) Housing accommodations financed through the state housing finance agency, with an interest subsidy attached thereto.
Interest subsidy means any payment made by the federal or state government to reduce the effective interest rate payable by a mortgagor.
Low or moderate income tenant means a tenant who is a person or group of persons residing in the same housing accommodation so long as the total income for all such tenants for the 12 months immediately preceding the date of notice provided for hereunder is less than 80 percent of the median income for the area set forth in regulations promulgated from time to time by the Department of Housing and Urban Development pursuant to 42 USC 1437 et seq., and calculated pursuant to said regulations.
Tenant means a person or group of persons collectively entitled to occupy a housing accommodation pursuant to a rental agreement written or implied.
Tenant subsidy means any payment made by the federal or state government for or on behalf of any tenant to be applied toward the reduction of the tenant's rental payment.