Saco City Council approves mobile home lot rent stabilization ordinance
Saco City Council Passes Rent‑Stabilization Ordinance for Mobile‑Home Lots
SACO – In a unanimous vote held Monday night, the Saco City Council approved a new ordinance that will curb the pace at which mobile‑home owners can raise lot rents. The measure, which limits increases to once a year and requires owners to give residents and the park’s resident committee a 90‑day notice before any hike, also creates a rent‑stabilization board that must include at least one resident from a Saco mobile‑home community.
The ordinance comes after a year‑long campaign by residents of Blue Haven Mobile Home Park – the city’s largest mobile‑home community with roughly 250 homes – to protect them from steep rent increases that could push them out of their houses. The city’s two other mobile‑home sites, Country Village on Route 1 and a smaller out‑of‑state park, are far smaller, housing only 10 to 15 units.
A Long‑Running Fight
Blue Haven residents have been lobbying the council since late 2025. In September of that year, the city passed an emergency moratorium that halted new lot‑rent hikes. In March, that moratorium was repealed, leaving many residents anxious about the future. The park’s owners, Blue Haven MHP LLC, and most residents reached a short‑term agreement on rent increases, but residents said the relief was temporary.
“We really want to be able to stay in our homes,” said Linda Libby, a resident who sits on the Blue Haven Resident Committee. “We can’t afford to be anywhere else. Rent is too high. Everything keeps going up. We’re in survival mode.” Libby, who lives on a fixed income and relies on Social Security, added that the ordinance “is really important to be able to support those of us who don’t make a lot of money and are on fixed incomes. We don’t have many options.”
Barb Thomas, also on the resident committee, told the council that the new law would give the community “a sense of security and stability.” “For the first time, our city is establishing that our community’s survival matters,” she said.
The New Ordinance in Detail
Under the new rule, an owner can only increase lot rent once in a calendar year, and must notify residents and the resident committee at least 90 days before the change takes effect. The ordinance also establishes a rent‑stabilization board that reviews proposed hikes to ensure they do not unduly harm residents. The board will be required to include a resident member, giving the community a direct voice in the decision‑making process.
“We’re in survival mode,” Libby reiterated. “If our lot rents go up, we could lose our homes.”
Beyond Rent Control: The Push for Ownership
While the ordinance offers immediate relief, some Blue Haven residents are looking for a longer‑term solution. The Blue Haven Resident Committee, led by vice‑president Brian LaRoche, has begun negotiations to buy the park from Blue Haven MHP LLC. The committee is now under contract to purchase the site, though LaRoche cautioned that “there are plenty of things that can happen before this closing takes place” and that the purchase carries no guarantees.
Even if residents secure ownership, the broader need for affordable, stable housing in Saco remains. “Look around this room. Don’t just look at the ordinance, look at the people. These aren’t faceless numbers. These are your neighbors,” LaRoche urged the council.
City Leadership Responds
The council’s decision was led by newly appointed Ward 3 councilor Sandra Guay, who joined the board to fill a vacancy. Guay praised the residents’ collaboration in drafting the ordinance. “It’s been remarkable to work with them,” she said. “The important thing right now is to get this passed and to give as much protection as possible to the residents of Blue Haven.”
Context in Saco
Saco’s mobile‑home population has grown in recent years. Blue Haven’s 250 homes represent the majority of the city’s mobile‑home residents, with the smaller Country Village site adding only a handful more. The new ordinance, which was the result of months of community engagement and negotiation, is the first formal measure in Maine to address mobile‑home rent increases at the city level.
While the ordinance does not directly set rent levels, it places a hard cap on the frequency and notice of increases, potentially preventing dramatic annual hikes that could jeopardize residents’ ability to pay. The creation of the rent‑stabilization board also gives the community an institutional avenue to challenge any rent hikes they perceive as unreasonable.
Looking Ahead
The ordinance will go into effect immediately, and the new board is slated to convene within the next few weeks. Residents at Blue Haven will now have a clearer framework for anticipating future rent changes, while the ongoing buyout negotiations continue to shape the park’s long‑term future.
For many residents, the ordinance marks a significant step toward preserving the homes that have been their anchor for years. “We’re in survival mode,” Libby said again. “Now, for the first time, the city is acknowledging that fact.”
