Chicopee, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 195 § 195-5
Standards for adjusting rents (Chicopee Mobile Home Parks)
Operative Text
A. The Board may make individual or general adjustments, either upward or downward, as may be necessary to assure that rents for mobile home park accommodations are established on levels which yield to owners a fair net operating income for such units. B. "Fair net operating income" shall be that income which will yield a return, after all reasonable operating expenses, on the fair market value of the property, equal to the debt service rate generally available from institutional first mortgage lenders or such other rates of return as the Board, on the basis of evidence presented before it, deems more appropriate to the circumstances of the case. C. Fair market value shall be the assessed valuation of the property or such other valuation as the Board, on the basis of evidence presented before it, deems more appropriate to the circumstances of the case. D. The Board may establish further standards and rules consistent with the foregoing.
Chicopee, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 195 § 195-5 establishes the framework the Rent Board uses when deciding whether to raise or lower rents at mobile home parks. The central concept is "fair net operating income" — a return on the property's fair market value, after reasonable operating expenses, benchmarked against prevailing institutional mortgage rates or another rate the Board finds appropriate. Fair market value is generally the assessed valuation, though the Board may accept alternative valuations supported by evidence. The Board is also authorized to adopt additional rules consistent with these standards.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 195 § 195-5, mobile home park operators seeking a rent adjustment typically present the Board with documentation of operating expenses, property valuation, and applicable financing rates to demonstrate what constitutes a fair net operating income for their property. Compliant operators generally maintain organized records of assessed valuations, debt service costs, and reasonable operating expenses, since the Board weighs evidence presented before it when determining the appropriate rate of return. Operators may also submit alternative valuation evidence if they believe the assessed value does not accurately reflect fair market value.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 195 § 195-5 gives mobile home park residents a stake in the rent-adjustment process, because any upward adjustment must be grounded in a fair net operating income standard — not simply a landlord's request. Tenants have the opportunity to appear before the Board and present or challenge evidence related to property valuation, operating expenses, and the rates of return being claimed. Residents who have questions about a pending adjustment may benefit from contacting a local tenant-rights organization or housing agency familiar with Chicopee's mobile home park regulations.
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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