Dalton, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 169 § 169-4
Standards for adjusting rents (Dalton Mobile Home Park Rent Control Board)
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 on 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 proposed rent increase shall be effective without the prior approval of the Board. E. The Board may establish further standards and rules consistent with the foregoing.
Under Dalton, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 169 § 169-4, the local Rent Board holds authority to adjust mobile home park rents—either up or down—to ensure that park owners receive a "fair net operating income." That income standard is tied to a return on the property's fair market value roughly equivalent to prevailing institutional mortgage rates, though the Board may accept other evidence-based benchmarks. Critically, no rent increase in a covered mobile home park takes effect unless the Board approves it in advance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 169 § 169-4, operators of mobile home parks in Dalton who seek a rent increase must obtain Board approval before any new rate takes effect. Compliant operators typically document their operating expenses, current debt service rates from institutional lenders, and property valuation data when presenting a case to the Board. The Board retains discretion to set its own supplemental standards, so staying current with any rules it publishes is a routine part of managing a covered park.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 169 § 169-4 gives mobile home park residents in Dalton a meaningful protection: a rent increase cannot legally take effect without prior Board approval, meaning tenants have a forum to challenge increases that do not meet the fair net operating income standard. If a park owner attempts to impose a rent hike without Board approval, that procedural requirement can be raised as a basis for contesting the increase. Tenants may consider contacting the Dalton Rent Board directly or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand how to participate in Board proceedings or submit evidence relevant to a pending adjustment.
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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