An Act relative to manufactured housing communities
By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 990) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation relative to manufactured housing communities. Housing.
Grants the Board of Health the authority to suspend or revoke a manufactured housing community license upon receiving a violation finding or order from the board.
Allows cities or towns to establish a separate board to oversee use and occupancy payments for manufactured housing community accommodations. The board established under this section has the power to make individual or general adjustments to ensure that use and occupancy of manufactured housing communities are set at levels suitable for the occupants of each manufactured home. The board is granted various powers and functions, including the ability to make rules and regulations, require registration of information from owners and operators of manufactured housing communities, sue and be sued, compel attendance and information, and issue binding orders on owners and tenants. Violations of ordinances or by-laws adopted under this section, as well as any orders issued by the board, can be punished with fines of up to $5,000. The board must notify the board of health of the city or town in case of violations or orders. The bill includes provisions regarding rent increases. A manufactured housing community owner or operator holding a license cannot increase use and occupancy fees or total rent of a resident's manufactured home by an amount greater than the most recent Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) during any 12-month period. However, the board may allow increases exceeding the C-CPI-U if it determines that such increases will yield a fair net operating income. The board must consider various factors, including property taxes, operating and maintenance expenses, capital improvements, changes in services or equipment, deterioration of the community, failure to perform maintenance, and ensuring that use and occupancy, rent, and fee payments are suitable for the occupants of each manufactured home when determining fair net operating income. The district court has jurisdiction over petitions for review, and the superior court has jurisdiction to enforce the act and by-laws adopted under it. Personnel of the board are exempt from Chapter 31 of the General Laws, which pertains to civil service.
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