Easton, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 506 § 506-6
Capital improvements and capital equipment rent adjustment (Easton Mobile Home Park Rules and Regulations)
Operative Text
A. Pre-approval. An Owner may file a petition for the purpose of obtaining pre-approval from the Board for an increase in Maximum Rent (as may be adjusted) to offset the cost of a substantial and necessary capital improvement or purchase of capital equipment. The procedures set forth in § 506-5 above for Rent adjustment petitions shall be used for capital improvement or capital equipment petitions. The Owner shall file with the petition for pre-approval any and all information relating to the cost of and need for financing the capital improvement or capital equipment purchase. The Board shall consider whether the improvement is necessary and the reasonableness of the cost of the improvement in considering a rent increase to support the cost of the improvement. The rent increase shall be conditioned upon satisfactory and final approval of the improvement, as set forth below. B. Final approval. Upon completion of the capital improvement or purchase of capital equipment for which a park owner or management has received pre-approval, the Owner shall notify the Board accordingly. The Board may give final approval of the increase in maximum rent(s). Final approval shall only be given by the Board upon submission of satisfactory evidence by the Owner that the capital improvement has been satisfactorily completed or the capital equipment has been purchased and that the costs incurred for such improvement are equal to or exceed the cost upon which pre-approval was given. In the event that such costs are less than the original estimated costs, the rent shall be increased only to the extent that it reflects such costs, as may be determined by the Board. The Board shall hold a hearing in accordance with § 506-5 hereof, upon submission by the Owner of evidence of completion of the capital improvement.
Easton, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 506 § 506-6 establishes a two-stage process — pre-approval and final approval — through which a mobile home park owner may seek a rent increase to cover the cost of a substantial and necessary capital improvement or capital equipment purchase. The Board first evaluates whether the improvement is necessary and whether the projected costs are reasonable before conditionally approving any rent increase. Once the work is completed or the equipment is purchased, the owner must submit evidence of completion and actual costs, and the Board holds a hearing before granting final approval; if actual costs came in lower than estimated, the permitted rent increase is reduced accordingly.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 506 § 506-6, compliant park owners generally initiate the process by filing a pre-approval petition that includes all cost and financing documentation, following the same procedural steps outlined in § 506-5. After receiving pre-approval, operators typically complete the improvement or equipment purchase and then promptly notify the Board, submitting satisfactory evidence that the work is done and that actual costs meet or exceed the pre-approved estimate. Operators should be aware that if final costs fall below the estimate, the Board will limit the rent increase to reflect only the actual expenditure, so maintaining thorough cost records throughout the project supports a smooth final-approval hearing.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 506 § 506-6 gives the Board — not the owner alone — the authority to approve any rent increase tied to a capital improvement or equipment purchase, meaning tenants have a structured opportunity to participate in the hearing process described in § 506-5 before any such increase takes effect. Because final approval requires the owner to demonstrate that costs actually justify the increase, tenants may review submitted evidence and raise concerns about whether the improvement was truly necessary or whether costs were accurately reported. Tenants who believe a capital-improvement rent increase was improperly granted under § 506-6 may consider contacting the Easton Rent Board directly or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
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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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation