Smith v Chelmsford Group, LLC
United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Case No. 1:21-CV-10654

Have you lived in or paid rent to the Chelmsford Commons Manufactured Housing Community in Chelmsford, Massachusetts at any time since September 13, 2022?

If yes, a legal Settlement has been proposed in a class action lawsuit that, if approved by the Court, will affect your rights.  So please review this website carefully. 

A Settlement has been proposed in the class action lawsuit Smith v. Chelmsford Group, LLC, No. 1:21-CV-10654, that is presently before the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (“Class Action”).  In the Class Action, the Plaintiff has claimed that home-site rents charged by the owner or manager of the Chelmsford Commons Manufactured Housing Community (“Chelmsford Commons”) have violated and continue to violate the Massachusetts Manufactured Housing Act and the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act because Chelmsford Commons is charging different rents for similar home sites.  For this Settlement to take effect, it must be approved by the Court.

The Settlement will require that Chelmsford Commons adopt a multi-year and judicially-monitored rent structure (“Rent Structure”) that: (i) honors all existing Chelmsford Commons lease agreements (called occupancy agreements); (ii) ensures that no home-site base rent in Chelmsford Commons will increase except for one annual increase each April by either 4.5% or the Consumer Price Index used in the occupancy agreements, whichever is greater in any year, while the Rent Structure is in place; (iii) ensures that no home-site base rent will exceed $964.37 per month while the Rent Structure is in place; and (iv) ensures that all new entrants to Chelmsford Commons will pay a home-site base rent of $964.37 while the Rent Structure is in place.  The Rent Structure will remain in place until all home-site base rents in Chelmsford Commons become equal, that is, reach $964.37.

In addition to preserving the long-term affordability of Chelmsford Commons through the implementation of the Rent Structure, the Settlement also provides for a one-time payment of $50 per home site, to be divided among all Chelmsford Commons tenants or residents of record at each home site as of September 13, 2022.    

Your legal rights are affected whether you act or don’t act.  Read this website carefully.

You can obtain a copy of the Settlement Agreement HERE or by calling 1-800-210-1732.