SPRINGFIELD — The residents at the West Street Village Community in Ludlow, a mobile home park, have taken their case of their landlord increasing the rents from $207 to $503.60 a month to Western Housing Court.
On Aug. 28, about 30 people gathered outside the courthouse to explain to the press what they are doing and to stage a rally before entering the courtroom.
Ethan Field, president of the tenant association, explained to Reminder Publishing that once the hearing is completed the judge has up to 120 days to issue a decision.
“We’re not expecting anything immediate,” he added.
Field has lived in the mobile home park for more than 20 years. The residents own their homes, but pay rent to Thomas Lennon, the owner of the land on which the mobile homes are located.
Fields said that Lennon has not addressed the infrastructure issues at the property, including inadequate electrical service, failing sewer lines and a lack of street lighting.
He added, “There is no question a lot of people struggle to pay this.” Many of the owners are on a fixed income and several are disabled.
There used to be a laundry area but that has eliminated. There is no common area in the park and the trailers themselves are all vintage 1950 and 1960s, he said.
Bringing the case to court is the next step in the story that started in 2021 when Lennon bought the 3.6-acre mobile home park for $450,000. Lennon went before the Ludlow Mobile Home Rent Control Board in July 2023, which late that year determined the rent could increase to $503.60. The increase went into effect on Feb. 1 and if the owners do not agree to the new agreement, they could be evicted.
Debee Boulanger, vice present of the tenant association, said to the people at the rally that Lennon justified in the increase by presenting documents to the board that indicated he had made improvements to the property. She characterized them as a “few cosmetic changes.”
In a press release issued at the rally, it was noted, “there is no crowning for water dispersal after paving, no finished edges, curbs or drains for the incomplete paving job done by Tom Lennon. Due to him not allowing for any water drainage, that means within a year, the paving that he has done will be loaded with potholes. He has not upgraded any of the electricity. Many tenants of the park are constantly losing power causing them undue stress as the entire park needs to be updated and he has done nothing to address the issue besides mini splits which are not working. Those mini splits were only installed in the updated units that the owner sold to new owners at inflated values. In many of those units with the mini splits, he removed the original heat source so every time they lose power, they also go without heat. There are also issues with the water and sewer and until all the bad conditions are addressed, there is no way that the assessment of the property is accurate to allow for such as large lot fee increase.”
As the rally was about to begin, Lennon and his attorney walked quickly around the tenants and into the courthouse.
The tenants’ association has the support for their actions from both state Sen. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow) and state Rep. Aaron Saunders (D-Belchertown).
Saunders charged that Lennon’s actions are motivated by greed. He added the court case is important because he believes that Lennon will be buying additional trailer parks.
“Others need to know,” he stated.
Oliveira said Lennon is “lining his pockets on the back of individuals.” He added that he has discussed the situation with other legislators to alert them to the tactics Lennon takes if he comes into their communities.
The senator added recent housing legislation does not protect the rights of people who live in mobile home parks but actions should be taken to correct that.
After the press conference and rally, the members of the tenant association sat in the back of the courtroom to watch the proceedings. Attorney Joel Feldman is representing them in the appeal.
