Belchertown, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 235 § 235-5
Adjustment of maximum rent (Belchertown Mobile Home Park Rents and Evictions)
Operative Text
A. The Board shall, by order or regulation as provided in § 235-6 , make such individual or general adjustments, either upward or downward, of the maximum rent established by § 235-3 for any mobile home park accommodation as may be necessary to remove hardships or correct inequities for both the owner and tenant, and in so doing shall observe the principle of maintaining rents at levels which will yield to owners a fair net operating income for such mobile home park accommodations. B. The Board, by regulation, may establish further standards and rules consistent with the foregoing. The Board may promulgate a schedule of standard rental increases or decreases for improvement or deterioration in specific services and facilities. C. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Board may refuse to grant an upward adjustment of maximum rent if it determines that the affected mobile home park accommodation does not comply with the State Sanitary Code or the Town of Belchertown Code or any other applicable code, ordinance or state law regulating the conditions of housing accommodations and if it determines that such lack of compliance is due to the failure of the owner to provide normal and adequate repairs and maintenance. The Board may refuse to make a downward adjustment of maximum rent if it determines that the tenant is more than 60 days in arrears in payment of rent, unless such arrearage is due to a withholding of rent under the provisions of MGL c. 239, § 8A , or if the tenant is in substantial violation of any enforceable rule of the mobile home park or if the tenant is in violation of any laws or ordinances which protect the health and safety of other mobile home park residents.
Belchertown, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 235 § 235-5 establishes a process by which the local Rent Control Board may adjust the maximum rent for mobile home park accommodations either upward or downward to eliminate hardships or inequities for owners and tenants alike. Any adjustments must be guided by the principle that rents should yield a fair net operating income to owners. Importantly, the Board may withhold an upward adjustment if the owner has failed to maintain the property in compliance with applicable housing codes, and may withhold a downward adjustment if the tenant is significantly behind on rent or is in substantial violation of park rules or applicable laws.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 235 § 235-5, operators of mobile home parks in Belchertown who seek an upward rent adjustment generally keep their accommodations in compliance with the State Sanitary Code, the Town of Belchertown Code, and other applicable housing ordinances. Owners who have neglected normal and adequate repairs and maintenance risk having an upward adjustment request denied by the Board. Compliant operators also stay informed about any schedule of standard rental increases or decreases the Board may promulgate for changes in services and facilities.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 235 § 235-5 gives mobile home park tenants in Belchertown the right to seek a downward rent adjustment if services or facilities have deteriorated, and it provides a meaningful protection: the Board may deny an owner's request for a rent increase if the accommodation fails to meet applicable housing or sanitary codes due to the owner's failure to maintain the property. Tenants who are withholding rent under MGL c. 239, § 8A are protected from having that arrearage used as a basis to block a downward adjustment. Tenants who believe these protections apply to their situation may consider contacting the Belchertown Rent Control Board directly or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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