Cheshire, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 155 § 155-4
Standards for adjusting rents (Cheshire 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 at 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. No rent adjustment shall be effective without the prior approval of the Board.
Under Cheshire, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 155 § 155-4, the local Rent Control Board has authority to raise or lower rents for mobile home park spaces to ensure that owners receive a "fair net operating income." That income standard is tied to a return—after reasonable operating expenses—on the property's fair market value, benchmarked against prevailing institutional mortgage rates or another rate the Board finds appropriate. Fair market value defaults to the assessed valuation of the property unless the Board accepts alternative evidence. Critically, no rent change of any kind takes effect until the Board formally approves it.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 155 § 155-4, mobile home park operators in Cheshire who seek a rent adjustment—whether an increase or a decrease—must bring their case before the Board before any new rent level becomes effective. Compliant operators typically document all reasonable operating expenses, the property's assessed or alternative fair market value, and current institutional mortgage rates to support their claim for a fair net operating income. Because the Board evaluates evidence presented to it, maintaining organized financial records and being prepared to present them at a Board proceeding is a hallmark of sound compliance practice.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 155 § 155-4 provides mobile home park residents in Cheshire with a meaningful protection: no rent adjustment is valid without prior Board approval, meaning a landlord cannot unilaterally raise rent outside that process. Tenants have the right to participate in Board proceedings where rent adjustments are considered, and presenting evidence about operating expenses or property valuation is part of that process. Residents who believe a proposed or implemented rent change did not follow the Board's approval requirement may raise that procedural requirement as a basis for a complaint before the Board or consult 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.
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