Saco to consider moratorium on mobile home lot increases

Blue Haven Mobile Home Park is located in Saco off Route One. PHOTO BY LIZ GOTTHELF

Liz Gotthelf, Publisher•

Sat, Oct 11, 2025

After listening to local mobile home park residents, the Saco City Councilwill make a future vote on a mobile home lot rent moratorium to allow time for review before it considers a new ordinance.

In August, residents of Blue Haven Mobile Home Park in Saco received a notice that all lot rents would increase to $660 monthly, beginning Dec. 1. This would be the second increase of the year, and some residents say it would mean a 28 percent increase in their lot rent this year. Many residents say that rent increases are hard to justify when the roads in the park have potholes and other repairs need to be made.

In September, several state laws regarding mobile home parks went into effect, including one that allows mobile home park residents to request mediation if a rent increase is more than the Consumer Price Index plus 1%, as long as at least 51 percent of residents sign a petition for mediation.

Blue Haven residents say that they have signatures from 75 percent of park residents requesting mediation. The owner of the park, who lives in California, sent a letter stating that they did not meet the requirements for mediation.

About a dozen residents from Blue Haven mobile home park spoke at Monday night’s City Council meeting.

Resident Dan Richards said he’s lived at the mobile home park for 30 years. He said about 40 percent of the residents were seniors on a fixed income.

“When this rent goes up, we’re going to lose neighbors,” he said.

Resident Sarah Giles Gardner said she has ongoing health issues. She said it was difficult to pay costly medical bills on top of all her other bills, and if the lot rent increased, she may have to leave her neighborhood.

“I really don’t want to leave Saco, but I might not have a choice,” she said.

The City Council discussed the matter and will vote at its next meeting on a moratorium on mobile home park lot increases. City staff will research mobile home park lot rent stabilization ordinances in other communities, as well as the state laws, and will present their findings to the City Council, said Acting City Administrator Emily Cole-Prescott.

Because there has been so much confusion around the state laws, a moratorium would allow mobile home park residents, park management and city officials to all get “on the same page” with the new laws, said Mayor Jodi MacPhail. Once there is a better understanding of the laws, the Council can decide whether it wants to move forward with a local ordinance regulating lot rent increases, she said.

“I’m in support of an emergency moratorium as we all get up to speed and educate ourselves,” said Councilor Nathan Johnston.

Councilor Phil Hatch said he also wondered if there was a way to “beef up” the zoning ordinance to ensure required maintenance and repairs are carried out.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.