Easton, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 506 § 506-5
Rent adjustment proceedings (Easton Mobile Home Park Rules and Regulations)
Operative Text
A. Individual adjustment of rent. The Board shall consider an adjustment of rent for an individual Manufactured Housing Accommodation upon receipt of a petition for adjustment filed by the Owner or Tenant of such Manufactured Housing Accommodation, or upon its own initiative. The Board may prescribe forms for such purposes. The Board shall notify the Owner, if the petition was filed by the Tenant, or the Tenant, if the petition was filed by the Owner, of the receipt of such petition and of the right of either party to participate in a hearing as required hereunder. B. General adjustment of rent. Upon petition by an Owner or Tenant(s) or upon its own initiative, the Board may make a general adjustment by percentage or otherwise of the rental levels for all or a portion of Manufactured Housing Accommodations in a Mobile Home Park, subject to such conditions, if any, as the Board shall determine in accordance with the By-law. The Board shall notify the Owner, if the petition was filed by the Tenant, or the Tenant, if the petition was filed by the Owner, of the receipt of such petition and of the right of either party to participate in a hearing as required hereunder. C. Hearings for rent adjustment proceedings shall be generally conducted pursuant the informal rules of administrator as detailed under 801 CMR 1.00 et seq., as may be modified by the provisions of these regulations. Notice of this time, place and purpose of such hearings shall be published at least once in a newspaper having a general circulation in the Town, and posted in the Town Hall, both not less than seven days prior to such hearings. Hearings shall open not more than 45 days after receipt, by the Board of any petition for rent adjustment. Hearings may be continued in order to obtain additional and necessary information, documentation and testimony. Upon the close of any such hearing, the Board shall have 45 days to file a written decision on such petition with the Easton Town Clerk. D. If an Owner files a petition for Rent Adjustment, the subject tenant(s) shall be considered to be a party to such proceeding. If a tenant or tenants file a petition for rent adjustment, the Owner shall be considered to be a party to such proceeding. E. The filing fee for any petition for individual rent adjustment shall be $100 per unit. The filing fee for any petition for a general rent adjustment shall be $1,000. The Board may waive all or a portion of the fee in the event that a Petition is Uncontested and/or the Petition will not require substantial administrative expense and/or in the event of demonstrable financial hardship. In addition, a check shall be issued to cover the costs of advertising for the then current rate of advertising. The above filing fee shall be paid by check or money order made payable to the Town of Easton and presented upon the filing of the petition with the Board. F. Should the Board require technical expertise for peer review of any matter or matter that may arise in a proceeding for rent adjustment, it may retain a qualified consultant, engineer, accountant, analyst or other expert, at the Petitioner's expense. The provisions of MGL c. 44, § 53G shall apply to the retention of any such expert.
Easton, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 506 § 506-5 establishes a formal process through which the Easton Rent Board can adjust rents for Manufactured Housing Accommodations in Mobile Home Parks, either for individual units or across an entire park. Adjustments can be initiated by an owner, a tenant, or by the Board itself, and both parties have the right to participate in a hearing. Hearings must open within 45 days of a petition's receipt, and the Board must issue a written decision within 45 days of the hearing's close. Filing fees apply—$100 per unit for individual adjustments and $1,000 for general adjustments—though the Board may waive fees in cases of hardship or uncontested petitions.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 506 § 506-5, owners of Manufactured Housing Accommodations who wish to seek a rent adjustment may file a petition with the Easton Rent Board, accompanied by a $100-per-unit fee for individual adjustments or a $1,000 fee for a general adjustment, paid by check or money order to the Town of Easton. Compliant operators are aware that once a petition is filed—whether by them or by a tenant—the other party is automatically considered a party to the proceeding and must be notified of their right to participate in a hearing. Operators should also budget for potential consultant or expert costs, as § 506-5(F) allows the Board to retain outside technical expertise at the petitioner's expense under MGL c. 44, § 53G.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 506 § 506-5 gives tenants of Manufactured Housing Accommodations in Easton the right to petition the Rent Board for an individual or general rent adjustment, and the Board may also act on its own initiative. When a tenant files a petition, the owner is automatically made a party to the proceeding and must be notified of the right to participate in the hearing, which must begin within 45 days of the Board receiving the petition. Tenants who face financial difficulty may request a fee waiver for the $100-per-unit filing fee, and tenant-rights organizations familiar with Massachusetts mobile home park regulations can help explain what documentation and testimony may be relevant to a hearing under this provision.
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.
Effective Timeline
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