Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. XI § 7-281

Applicable laws means all controlling applicable federal, state and local statutes, regulations, ordinances and administrative rules and orders that have the effect of law, as well as all applicable final, non-appealable judicial opinions.

Entity means a business organization, or any other kind of organization, including without limitation a corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability corporation, limited liability partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship, development or project, or any other category of organization, and any employee, agent, servant or other representative of such entity.

Former homeowner means any natural person or group of natural persons who, prior to foreclosure of a housing accommodation, had been the title owner or owners of such housing accommodation, or who has a legal or beneficial interest in the housing accommodation by dissolution of marriage, separation agreement, survivorship, devise, or intestate succession, and who at the time of foreclosure actually occupied such housing accommodation as a resident or residents.

Foreclosing owner means any natural person or entity that holds title in any capacity, directly or indirectly without limitation, whether in its own name, as trustee or as beneficiary, to a housing accommodation that has been foreclosed upon and either (1) held or owned a mortgage or other security interest in the housing accommodation at any point prior to the foreclosure of the housing accommodation, or is the subsidiary, parent, trustee, or agent thereof; or (2) is an institutional mortgagee that acquires or holds title to the housing accommodation; or (3) is the Federal National Mortgage Association or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.

Landlord means owner of record, or lessor or sub-lessor of an owner of record, or any other person, project, housing development, or other entity entitled either to receive rent for the use and occupancy of any rental unit or to maintain an action for possession of a rental unit, or an agent, representative, successor, or assignee of any of the foregoing.

Lease non-renewal or expiration means a provision in a written rental agreement for a housing accommodation or rental unit that the lease will expire either as of a fixed date, or at the election of the owner for the failure of the tenant to take certain affirmative action.

Notice to quit means any written notice sent by a landlord or a foreclosing owner to a tenant or former homeowner of a residential rental unit or housing accommodation seeking to terminate the tenant’s tenancy or the former homeowner’s occupancy of such rental unit or housing accommodation.

Office of Housing Stability means the office of the City of Somerville created to address the problem of displacement in the city, or any subsequent or successor office or entity similarly empowered with like purpose or responsibility, or if no such office exists, the city office or entity with the closest corresponding purpose or responsibility.

Owner means any person or entity that holds title to one or more dwelling units in any manner including but not limited to a partnership, corporation or trust. For purposes of this ordinance the term “owner” shall include one who manages, controls, or customarily accepts rent on behalf of the owner.

Property means a parcel of land along with all fixtures, structures and improvements thereupon, located in the City of Somerville, that is assessed and taxed as an undivided whole.

Rental unit means a non-owner occupied room or group of related rooms within a dwelling used or intended for use by one family or household for living, sleeping, cooking and eating.

Skilled nursing facility means a health facility or a distinct part of a hospital that provides, at a minimum, skilled nursing care and supportive care to patients whose primary medical need is the availability of skilled nursing care on an extended basis. Such facility must provide 24 hour inpatient care, an activity program, and medical, nursing, dietary, and pharmaceutical services. Additionally, the facility must provide effective arrangements, confirmed in writing, through which services required by the patients but not regularly provided within the facility can be obtained promptly when needed.

Tenancy means occupation or use of a dwelling unit under an express or implied rental agreement.

Tenant means any person who inhabits or is entitled to inhabit a dwelling unit under a rental agreement.