Slade v. McLaughlin

This case involves a structural merger of two apartments in a rent-controlled building in Cambridge (city). At issue are the propriety of this merger and the continued status of the building as rent controlled. We conclude that the apartments’ merger was lawful. We also conclude that the building in question may, under certain circumstances, be free from rent control. We reach this conclusion by construction of the authorizing statute as well as the relevant city ordinance and regulations.

The plaintiff (tenant) has occupied a third-floor apartment in the three-story rent-controlled building…