Easton, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 506 § 506-4
Adjustment of maximum rent (Easton Mobile Home Park Rules and Regulations)
Operative Text
A. The Board may make such individual or general adjustments, either upward or downward, of the Maximum Rent established under § 506-2 (or under any subsequent order issued hereunder) for any Manufactured Housing Community or Accommodation therein as may be necessary to remove hardships, correct inequities for both Owner and Tenant, and make adjustments for capital improvements/equipment and in so doing shall observe the principal of maintaining rents at levels which will yield to Owners a Fair Net Operating Income for such Manufactured Housing Community. B. The Board may promulgate a schedule of standard rental increases or decreases for improvement or deterioration in specific services and facilities. C. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Board may refuse to grant an upward adjustment of maximum rent if it determines that the affected Manufactured Housing Community or any Accommodation therein does not comply with the State Sanitary Code or the Town of Easton's bylaws or regulations or any other applicable code, ordinance or state law regulating the conditions of housing accommodations, and if it determines that such lack of compliance is due to the failure of the Owner to provide normal and adequate repairs and maintenance. The Board may refuse to make a downward adjustment of maximum rent if it determines that the Tenant seeking such adjustment is more than 30 days in arrears in payment of Rent (unless such arrearage is due to a withholding of rent under the provisions of MGL c. 239, § 8A), or if the Tenant is in substantial violation of any enforceable rule of the Manufactured Housing Community, or if the Tenant is in violation of any laws or bylaws which protect the health and safety of other Manufactured Housing Community residents.
Section 506-4 of Easton's Code of Bylaws establishes a process by which the Easton Rent Board may raise or lower the maximum rent for manufactured housing communities or individual accommodations covered under § 506-2. Adjustments can be made to relieve hardship, correct inequities for either owners or tenants, or account for capital improvements, with the guiding principle that rents should yield owners a fair net operating income. The Board may also refuse upward adjustments when a community fails to meet housing codes due to owner neglect, and may refuse downward adjustments when a tenant is more than 30 days behind on rent (outside of a lawful rent withholding under MGL c. 239, § 8A), is in substantial violation of community rules, or is violating laws protecting other residents' health and safety.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 506-4, operators of manufactured housing communities in Easton should understand that the Rent Board has authority to grant or deny rent adjustment requests based on the condition of the property and the owner's maintenance record. Compliant operators generally keep their communities in conformance with the State Sanitary Code, Easton's bylaws, and all applicable housing regulations, since documented failures of normal maintenance can result in the Board refusing an upward rent adjustment. Owners seeking adjustments for capital improvements or equipment upgrades typically document those expenditures and demonstrate how they relate to the fair net operating income standard the Board is required to observe under § 506-4.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 506-4 gives tenants in Easton manufactured housing communities the right to seek downward rent adjustments from the Rent Board when services or facilities have deteriorated, and the Board may also act on general conditions affecting the whole community. Tenants should be aware that the Board may decline a downward adjustment request if the tenant is more than 30 days in arrears on rent, unless that arrearage stems from a lawful rent withholding under MGL c. 239, § 8A, or if the tenant is found to be in substantial violation of community rules or applicable health and safety laws. Tenants who believe an upward adjustment is being sought despite code violations caused by owner neglect may raise that issue before the Board under § 506-4, and consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with manufactured housing can help clarify 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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