Easton, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 168 § 168-5
Standards for adjusting rents (Easton Mobile Home Parks)
Operative Text
A. The Rent Board, in regulating rents, shall make such individual or general adjustments, either upward or downward, as may be necessary to assure that rents for Mobile Home Park Sites are established at levels which yield to tenants reasonable Site rents based on current economic conditions and, to owners or licensees, a fair net operating income. B. The Rent Board may make Site rent adjustments at its own initiative; or application for Site rent changes may be made to the Rent Board by owners, licensees and/or tenant(s) of Mobile Home Parks in the Town of Easton. Any application for change in Site rents made by tenants may not be used as a premise for increasing rents or other charges. C. No proposed rent increase shall be effective without the prior written approval of the Board. D. The following factors, among other relevant factors, which the Board, by its Regulation may define, shall be considered in determining whether rents for Mobile Home Park Sites yield a fair net operating income: (1) Increases or decreases in property taxes; (2) Unavoidable increases or any decreases in operating and maintenance expenses; (3) Capital improvements of the mobile home park as distinguished from ordinary repair, replacement and maintenance; (4) Increases or decreases in space, services, equipment, etc.; (5) Substantial deterioration of the mobile home park other than as a result or ordinary wear and tear; and (6) Failure to perform ordinary repair, replacement and maintenance. E. The Rent Board may establish, via its Regulations, further definitions, standards and rules consistent with the foregoing.
Section 168-5 of Easton's Code of Bylaws establishes a framework under which the Rent Board regulates site rents at mobile home parks, with authority to adjust rents upward or downward to balance tenants' interest in reasonable rents against owners' interest in a fair net operating income. Rent increases cannot take effect without the Board's prior written approval. The Board weighs a defined set of factors—including property tax changes, operating costs, capital improvements, and maintenance conditions—when evaluating whether current rents are appropriate. Tenants, owners, and licensees may all initiate applications for rent adjustments, though a tenant-initiated application cannot itself be used as a basis for raising rents.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 168 § 168-5, operators of mobile home parks in Easton must obtain prior written approval from the Rent Board before any proposed rent increase becomes effective. Compliant operators typically document changes in property taxes, operating and maintenance expenses, and capital improvements—distinguishing those improvements from routine repairs—when submitting an application for a site rent adjustment. Maintaining records of services, equipment, and the overall condition of the park supports a well-substantiated application and helps demonstrate that requested rents reflect a fair net operating income.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 168-5 gives tenants of mobile home parks in Easton the right to apply directly to the Rent Board for a site rent adjustment, and the bylaw explicitly prohibits an owner or licensee from using a tenant's application as a justification for raising rents or other charges. Because no rent increase is valid without the Board's prior written approval, tenants who receive notice of an increase may wish to verify that the required approval was obtained. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with local rent board procedures can help residents understand how to engage with the Rent Board process or raise a compliance concern.
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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