We are all familiar with Maine’s housing crisis. Our friends and family members may need to move to take a new job, because their family is growing or because their current housing is in such poor shape that it’s uncomfortable or unsafe. Regardless of the reason, they are not able to find housing. Often housing is not available, and options that are available cost too much.

According to a recent study from Harvard University, nearly half of all Maine tenants cannot afford their rent: 41.4 percent are cost-burdened and 19.7 percent are severely cost-burdened. For those who aren’t familiar with the term, “affordable” housing is any rental unit that costs no more than 30 percent of the tenant’s gross income.

Anne Carney

Renters in Senate District 29 have been hit hard by the housing crisis, especially when a company from Los Angeles bought Redbank Village. This neighborhood of 250 duplexes provides housing that is affordable for families with low and moderate incomes. Beyond that, Redbank Village is special because it surrounds a community center with a gym and basketball court, a teen center where high school students can gather to do homework and a sports field used by soccer teams of all ages.

In the spring of 2022, many tenants received unusual rent increase notices. They had a couple of weeks to agree to a rent increase. If they didn’t accept, the increase would be hundreds of dollars more per month at the end of the 45 day notice required by law. Even though the 45-day notice law says “A written or oral waiver of this requirement is against public policy and is void,” there was no protection for tenants who face eviction for asserting their rights. I’ve been working to improve laws that prevent unfair evictions. As we push for more housing to be built, we should also help Mainers remain in their homes.

LD 45, “An Act to Prevent Retaliatory Evictions,” is one bill I’ve sponsored that would keep people housed during this crisis. The bill would protect tenants when a landlord tries to raise rent in violation of Maine’s 45-day notice law or a municipal ordinance. It would also protect tenants when landlords violate the current law prohibiting raising rent when housing is uninhabitable. The bill adds to existing protections against retaliation found in Maine law.

Eviction often has long-term and devastating consequences for Maine families. When a family loses a home due to eviction, the family typically loses furniture, clothing, books, toys and many household goods because there is no place to keep them. Once a judgment of eviction is entered, it appears on a tenant’s rental history report and limits or eliminates their options for renting a safe and secure home in the future.

If you are interested in this issue, you can listen to or watch a recording of the public hearing for LD 45 at legislature.maine.gov/Audio/#48. Once there, select the “Feb 3 – Feb 10, 2023” date range. Below that, look for LD 45 at 1 p.m. on Feb. 9, 2023. When you click the play button on the upper right, the audio and visual player will start.

Anne Carney represents Maine Senate District 29, which consists of Cape Elizabeth, South Portland and part of Scarborough. She can be reached at 207-287-1515 or Anne.Carney@legislature.maine.gov.