Renting The Lot, Owning The Home
G.L. c. 140, § 32J — termination only for listed reasons, and fifteen days to pay or cure
In Massachusetts, a tenancy in a manufactured housing community can be ended by the licensee only for nonpayment of rent, a substantial violation of an enforceable community rule, a violation of laws protecting other residents' health or safety, a good faith discontinuance of the land's use as a community, or, for a tenancy at will, to create a new one at an increased rent.
Thirty days notice, fifteen days to cure. No eviction case can be brought unless the licensee gave at least thirty days' written notice by certified or registered mail, stating the reasons and that the resident has fifteen days from mailing to pay the overdue rent or cure the violation, and the resident has not done so within twenty days of receiving the notice.
A case other than for nonpayment must be brought within thirty days of the last alleged violation. A discontinuance of the community's use is not valid, for five years from the sale, against a home the licensee sold with a site provided.
Rules and fairness. Community rules may not be unreasonable, unfair or unconscionable, and a rule or rent change that does not apply uniformly to residents of a similar class is presumed unfair. A new or changed rule is sent to the attorney general and the housing secretary at least sixty days before it takes effect.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionThe park can end a tenancy for any reason | What the law actually doesOnly the reasons the section lists |
| The assumptionA notice means leaving | What the law actually doesFifteen days from mailing to pay or cure, and twenty days from receipt before a case |
| The assumptionThe park can apply rules to some residents only | What the law actually doesA rule or rent change that is not uniform is presumed unfair |
Fees on the sale of a home, the choice of dealer or supplier, and the community's other duties run under the section's other paragraphs. Whether a reason or notice was adequate is a question for a licensed Massachusetts attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- G.L. c. 140, § 32J — Summary process to recover possession; termination of tenancy or lease
- G.L. c. 140, § 32L — Requirements and restrictions applicable to manufactured housing communities
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Massachusetts attorney.