AUGUSTA - A bill to increase the notice period that a landlord must provide a tenant before significantly increasing their rent is now law. The measure is sponsored by Rep. Chris Kessler, D-South Portland.
LD 701 will require a landlord to provide 75 days' notice when increasing a tenants rent by 10% or more over the previous year's rent. Current law requires 45 days' notice for increases of any amount and will continue to remain in place for increases under 10%. Residential properties that are participating in housing assistance programs are exempt from the new law.
"Rents across Maine have been increasing significantly, and lawmakers have allowed that to happen without enough guardrails in place to protect tenants," said Kessler. "This new law is a modest step toward providing some stability for tenants by giving them a little bit more time to come up with additional resources to help pay their rent or find a more affordable place to live."
The new law will go into effect 90 days after final adjournment of the legislative session.
Kessler, a member of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, is serving his third term in the Maine House and represents part of Cape Elizabeth and part of South Portland. He has been heavily involved in past efforts in South Portland to increase tenant protections, most recently working with tenants at Redbank Village as they faced significant rent hikes.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Kessler], c. 305-965-2744