LEWISTON- By a 6-1 vote on Tuesday night, the City Council approved final passage of a moratorium ordinance that bans lot rent increases in the city’s mobile home parks.
The moratorium against rent increases will be in effect for 180 days, unless the Council acts to renew the ordinance or ends it early. It becomes effective 30 days after final passage (early April).
Several residents of the city’s mobile home parks spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance.
Many spoke of having limited incomes and fear they may lose their homes if lot rents keep increasing at the rate they have been the past few years.
Several Fox Run mobile home park residents spoke in favor of the ordinance
Although Councilors ultimately approved the ordinance, a few spoke of concerns raised by park owners that must be considered for the city to reach a long-term solution to the crisis.
Councilors appeared to agree on sending the issue to the Housing Committee, chaired by Craig Saddlemire, who was at the meeting and offered to take on the task.
After review by the committee, the Council will consider a permanent ordinance that could possibly limit rent increases, or tie them to a price index.
Mobile home owners own their homes, but not the land they are on. They pay property taxes as well, in addition to the lot rent.
For a typical homeowner who doesn’t pay rent but still isn’t able to afford their property taxes, when the taxes aren’t paid, a bill is accrued until eventually the house is sold or is no longer occupied. The city is then able to recoup the total amount owed.
If a mobile home owner isn’t able to pay their lot rent, they can be evicted, even though they own their home. This makes them especially susceptible to rent increases.
Many mobile homes are owned by senior citizens who typically live on fixed incomes, adding to the susceptibility of those residents.
The 180 day timeframe would end the moratorium in early October of this year, assuming it is not renewed.
Ward Seven Councilor Bret Martel was the only vote against the moratorium ordinance.