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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1723H.P. 1150House of Representatives, April 17, 2025
An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Manufactured Housing
Communities to Prevent Excessive Rent and Fees Increases
Reference to the Committee on Housing and Economic Development suggested and
ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GOLEK of Harpswell.
Cosponsored by Senator TALBOT ROSS of Cumberland and
Representatives: ANKELES of Brunswick, Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford, GERE of
Kennebunkport, GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach, MALON of Biddeford, MINGO of
Calais, WEBB of Durham, Senator: TEPLER of Sagadahoc. Page 1 - 132LR0849(01)
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2 as amended by PL 1993, c. 642, §8, is further
3 amended to read:
4 F. To have this board, in the administration of this chapter, give consideration to
5 economic factors that may result in additional costs to home buyers and eliminate any
6 unnecessary costs that may occur from the enforcement of this chapter or any other
7 Act; and
8 as amended by PL 1993, c. 642, §8, is further
9 amended to read:
10 G. To grant to this board the investigative and regulatory powers it may reasonably
11 require to accomplish the foregoing purposes and intent and to carry out the provisions
12 of this chapter, including making decisions, in accordance with the Maine
13 Administrative Procedure Act. ; and
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15 H. To prevent excessive increases in lot rent for manufactured housing and in
16 manufactured housing communities in order to preserve manufactured housing as a
17 critical source of affordable housing in the State.
18 as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. D, §1, is
19 further amended to read:
20
21 subsection 22, consists of 9 13 members appointed by the Governor as follows.
22 as amended by PL 2017, c. 210, Pt. B, §8, is
23 further amended to read:
24 The members of the board include:
25 B. Three public members, as defined in Title 5, section , at least one of whom
26 lives in who are tenants in a manufactured housing community, appointed by the
27 Speaker of the House of Representatives;
28 B-1. One public member, as defined in Title 5, section 12004-A, who is a tenant in a
29 resident-owned manufactured housing community, as defined in section 9081,
30 subsection 7, appointed by the Governor;
31 B-2. One public member, as defined in Title 5, section 12004-A, appointed by the
32 President of the Senate;
33 C. One member who is a professional engineer with demonstrated experience in
34 construction and building technology, appointed by the Governor;
35 D. Two members who are dealers, one appointed by the President of the Senate and
36 one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
37 F. One member who is an owner or operator of a manufactured housing community,
38 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
39 G. One member who is a builder of manufactured housing, appointed by the Governor;
40 and Page 2 - 132LR0849(01)
1 H. One member with a minimum of 2 years of practical experience in building code
2 administration and enforcement and with current employment as a code enforcement
3 officer. , appointed by the President of the Senate;
4 I. One member with experience providing technical assistance to resident-owned
5 manufactured housing communities, as defined in section 9081, subsection 7,
6 appointed by the Governor; and
7 J. One member with experience representing tenants of manufactured housing
8 communities in dispute with a landlord or person who operates a manufactured housing
9 community licensed in accordance with this chapter, appointed by the President of the
10 Senate.
11 The term of office of the members is 4 years. Appointment of a member must comply with
12 section 8009. A member of the board may be removed for cause by the Governor.
13 is enacted to read:
14
15 or "lot" means a site specifically designated for the placement or location of a manufactured
16 home within a manufactured housing community.
17 is enacted to read:
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19 owner" means a person or entity licensed by the board or a managing agent working on
20 behalf of a person or entity licensed by the board that controls, manages or operates a
21 manufactured housing community or has the practical authority to establish requirements
22 for the operation of a manufactured housing community, including, but not limited to,
23 establishing the amount of lot rent and fees.
24 is enacted to read:
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26 resident" means any person who resides in a manufactured home that is part of a
27 manufactured housing community.
28 is enacted to read:
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30 manufactured housing community" means a manufactured housing community in which
31 the residents are part of a cooperative of manufactured home owners who control, manage
32 and operate the manufactured housing community, including, but not limited to,
33 establishing community rules and lot rent and fees.
34 is enacted to read:
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36 Except as otherwise provided in
37 this section, a manufactured housing community owner is prohibited from increasing the
38 rent amount for a lot or the fees associated with tenancy in a manufactured housing
39 community by more than 10% of the base rent amount or 10% of the base fees amount over
40 a period of 4 years. Page 3 - 132LR0849(01)
1 For the purposes of this section, "base rent amount" means the
2 total amount charged per month to a manufactured housing community resident for a
3 manufactured housing community lot on October 1, 2025 or the initial rent charged per
4 month in a manufactured housing community established after October 1, 2025. For a lot
5 that is vacant on October 1, 2025, the base rent is an amount equal to the average rent of
6 lots in a manufactured housing community with equivalent services and amenities.
7 For the purposes of this section, "base fees amount" means the
8 total amount of fees charged per month to a manufactured housing community resident for
9 fees associated with tenancy in the manufactured housing community on October 1, 2025
10 or the initial rent charged per month in a manufactured housing community established
11 after October 1, 2025.
12 A manufactured housing community owner shall provide
13 notice of rent or fee increases no less than 90 days before the effective date of the increase.
14 The notice must include the amount of the increase expressed as a percentage of the base
15 rent amount or base fees amount and the dollar amount above the base rent amount or base
16 fees amount and any history of rent increases or base fees during the preceding 4 years.
17 A manufactured housing community
18 owner may request an exemption from the rent and fees increase limitations prescribed by
19 this section to the board in a manner determined by the board. The manufactured housing
20 community owner must deliver a copy of a request submitted to the board to each
21 manufactured housing community resident by certified mail at the same time the request is
22 submitted to the board. The board may grant an exemption if the board determines the
23 manufactured housing community owner has experienced one or more of the following:
24 A. A recent increase in property tax obligations that would not be met without an
25 increase that exceeds the limits established by this section;
26 B. A significant increase in utility costs directly related to the operation of the
27 manufactured housing community that are the responsibility of the manufactured
28 housing community owner that would not be met without an increase that exceeds the
29 limits established by this section; or
30 C. A need for a significant infrastructure improvement that is not the result of
31 neglecting to keep up with standard maintenance that would not be met without an
32 increase that exceeds the limits established by this section.
33 Resident-owned manufactured housing communities are not subject to the requirements of
34 this section.
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36 This bill amends the declaration of purpose in the Manufactured Housing Act to include
37 preventing excessive increases in lot rent in manufactured housing communities in order
38 to preserve manufactured housing as a source of affordable housing in the State. The bill
39 increases the membership of the Manufactured Housing Board from 9 to 13 members. The
40 bill establishes a limitation on the amount lot rent may be increased in a manufactured
41 housing community within a 4-year period of 10% of the base rent. The bill allows for the
42 owner of a manufactured housing community to request an exemption from the 10% limit
43 and requires that notification of an exemption request be delivered to residents of the
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44 manufactured housing community. The bill also specifies that these rent limitations do not
45 apply to resident-owned manufactured housing communities.
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