LUDLOW, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - People living at a mobile home park in Ludlow are speaking out against a huge increase in rent that recently went into effect.
One resident we spoke with told us now her rent has nearly tripled, she’s left with only about $47 each month after paying rent, her cable bill and heating her home.
On Monday, Western Mass News spoke with Amanda Sturtevant, she told us she’s lived at the West Street Village Park for just over a year and now a sudden rent increase could leave her without a place to live.
“Personally I’m on social security I’m very low income for me it’s the difference between going to get groceries a...
Read More
I’m glad to see the “free rent movement” gang is back in town. Here’s how to create a “free rent movement” article:
#1: Pretend that residents can’t afford both food and rent – really ham it up. Turn on the gas light.
One resident we spoke with told us now her rent has nearly tripled, she’s left with only about $47 each month after paying rent, her cable bill and heating her home.“Personally I’m on social security I’m very low income for me it’s the difference between going to get groceries a week or paying a bill or hearing my home,” said Sturtevant.
#2: Focus on the percentage of increase and not the numerical amount.
This is a story Western Mass News has been looking into and in our research we spoke with the Ludlow town administrator and he told us rent at the West street village mobile home park has increased by well over 100%. Adding that the Mobile Home Rent Control Board authorized an increase from just over $195 a month all the way up to $549.33 a month.
#3: When the facts don’t support your theory, hide them.
Did you notice that little item from above that says the “the Mobile Home Rent Control Board authorized these increases”? Gosh darn it, that kind of really changes the narrative here. How is the park owner evil when everything he did was approved by a “rent control board”?
Bad news for the “free rent movement” folks: it’s NEVER going to happen. Even in Massachusetts you have this problem called property law. And if you don’t let property owners charge fair market rents then they just bulldoze the mobile home park and find another use that’s more profitable. The property owner always wins.