Blue Haven residents ask Saco City Council for temporary moratorium on lot‑rent increases

Residents of the Blue Haven Mobile Park urged the Saco City Council on Sept. 22 to adopt a temporary moratorium on lot‑rent increases after receiving a notification of a December rent raise they say would amount to as much as $145 per month.

The request came during the council's public comment period. "We are asking the city council to pass a temporary moratorium for our lot rent increase in the community," said Kathy (last name not specified), a Blue Haven resident and tenant‑association organizer. She told the council most residents are on fixed incomes and fear retaliation if they speak directly with the out‑of‑state owner.

The residents said the owner’s notice cited a Northeast CPI calculation and described a process for mediation under recent state law, but that the owner had told them they were not eligible for mediation. "We're not looking for permanent rent control at this time. We're simply looking for a temporary moratorium to allow our city and state to...develop a local ordinance or enforcement framework to ensure compliance and fairness," said Brian LaRoche, another Blue Haven resident.

Tenants described the proposed increases as sudden and severe. "This increase reportedly as high as $145 per month is a 28% increase for a majority of the residents," Kathy said. Other speakers described the financial and health impacts: "I now find myself trying to survive on a fixed income," said resident Rodney Champagne, who said the proposed increase would consume a substantial share of his Social Security checks.

Residents asked the council to follow actions taken by other Maine municipalities (Sanford, Waterville, Old Orchard Beach) and consider a temporary moratorium while mediation, interpretation of the new state protections, and a local enforcement framework are developed.

Council discussion after public comment produced a request from Councilor Berman that staff prepare information for the council on options before the December effective date, including what a moratorium might look like and how neighboring towns have handled similar requests. Councilor Johnston and Councilor Hatch expressed support for bringing the topic back to council for discussion and potential action.

No formal moratorium motion was made at the Sept. 22 meeting; councilors requested staff research and present options at a future meeting. Residents said they would return to the council as needed and offered to provide documentation to staff.

The council did not take immediate action to block the December increase but did direct staff to report back with options and analysis for council consideration.