Kingston, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 440 § 440-8
Capital improvements and capital equipment rent adjustment (Kingston Manufactured Home Park Regulations)
Operative Text
A. Preapproval. A park owner or management may file a petition for the purpose of obtaining preapproval from the Board for an increase in maximum rent to offset the cost of a substantial and necessary capital improvement or purchase of capital equipment. The procedures set forth in § 440-6 above for individual rent adjustment petitions shall be used for capital improvement or capital equipment petitions. The park owner or management shall file with the petition for preapproval any and all information relating to the cost of and need for financing the capital improvement or capital equipment purchase. Any preapproval given by the Board shall also be deemed an approval of such financing. 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. B. Final approval. Upon completion of the capital improvement or purchase of capital equipment for which a park owner or management has received preapproval, 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 park owner or management 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 preapproval was given. In the event that such costs are less than the original estimated costs, the maximum rent shall be increased only to the extent that it reflects such costs. The Board shall hold a public hearing upon submission by the park owner or management of evidence of completion of the capital improvement.
Kingston, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 440 § 440-8 establishes a two-stage process — preapproval and final approval — through which a mobile home park owner may seek a rent increase tied to a substantial capital improvement or capital equipment purchase. The Board evaluates whether the improvement is necessary and whether its cost is reasonable before granting any preapproval, and a public hearing is required before final approval is granted. If the actual costs come in below the original estimate, the permitted rent increase is scaled down accordingly, ensuring residents are not charged more than the verified expense warrants.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 440 § 440-8, compliant park operators typically file a petition with the Board before beginning a capital improvement project, submitting all documentation related to cost, need, and any financing arrangements. After the Board grants preapproval, operators proceed with the improvement and then submit satisfactory evidence of completion — including actual cost records — to trigger the final approval stage. Because the allowable rent increase is tied directly to verified costs, operators generally maintain thorough documentation throughout the project to support the final approval submission.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 440 § 440-8 gives residents of Kingston mobile home parks a meaningful opportunity to participate in the rent-increase process, since the Board must hold a public hearing before granting final approval of any capital improvement rent adjustment. Tenants can attend that public hearing to raise questions about whether the improvement was truly necessary, whether costs were reasonable, and whether actual expenditures matched the preapproved estimate. Residents who believe a rent increase under this section was improperly granted may consider contacting the Kingston Rent Control Board directly or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on 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.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation