From new housing developments, rent control news, election updates, and more - the RHA wants to keep our members informed of the latest local headlines. Read up on the latest headlines & news articles from the past week below and stay tuned for weekly recaps every Friday. 

October 19: “Landlords say proposed rental registry may drive them out of Waterville” 

Local rental housing providers in Waterville expressed concern that a new rental registration ordinance currently being developed by Waterville’s housing committee could negatively impact the city. According to Waterville city officials, the rental registration ordinance is “meant to make sure properties are safe and that landlords can be reached easily in an emergency.” However, Waterville’s rental housing providers are concerned that the ordinance is yet another regulation that would make “doing business in Waterville too difficult for them to remain.”

Read the full article here.

October 19: “Progressive referendums are driving polarization in Portland” 

A recent article from Bangor Daily News highlights the current tensions during this election season, and the opinions from some locals - including the disagreement around the referendum process, which was quoted as putting “a lot of undue stress” on Portland. “As a real estate agent and landlord, [Alex Kappelman] vehemently opposes Question C, which requires 90-day notices for lease terminations and rent increases and discourages no-cause evictions, which he said would end up being bad for renters and landlords. “It’s driving down property value and it’s causing landlords to increase rent unnecessarily,” Kappelman said.” 

Read the full article here.

October 18: “Rent Control Heats Up Amid Challenges From Industry” 

Trade publication, Multi-Housing News, covered various cities and states across the nation that have enacted local legislation and ballot measures regarding rent control and their implications - including the rent control ordinance in Portland, ME.

“Our position is that these are failed policies that go by a number of different names nowadays, but ultimately they work against housing affordability because they reduce the quality and quantity of the housing stock,” said Nicole Upano, assistant vice president of housing, policy & regulatory affairs at the National Apartment Association. The National Multifamily Housing Council also cited research that testified to the negative impacts of rent control. 

Read the full article here.

October 18: “South Portland Council votes to extend rent cap and eviction moratorium” 

This Tuesday, the South Portland City Council voted to extend their emergency rent cap and eviction moratorium for another six months. If approved at the next reading on November 1, the cap and moratorium would remain in place until May 26. The emergency rent cap and eviction moratorium was originally put in place back in June, following the actions of JRK Property Holdings at Redbank Village. 

Read the full article here.

October 16: “ECC opens new space, fundraises for low income housing project” 

The Equality Community Center, a “collaborative workplace for LGBTQ+ and allied social justice seeking non-profit organizations” based in Portland, recently celebrated the grand opening of their new space on Casco Street. The event also helped kick off a fundraiser to develop a new 60-unit affordable housing building to serve the LGBTQ+ community. Their current goal is to raise $4 million for the development, with $2.5 million raised so far. 

Read the full article here. 

From new housing developments, rent control news, election updates, and more - the RHA wants to keep our members informed of the latest local headlines. Read up on the latest headlines & news articles from the past week below and stay tuned for weekly recaps every Friday.

October 13: “Biddeford’s affordable housing task force delivers interim report”

In Biddeford, the mayor’s Affordable Housing Task Force recently delivered data and action items for the Biddeford City Council to consider on the topic of housing affordability. The task force was created to “review and make recommendations on housing issues facing the community,” including nine work tasks that ranged from reviewing historical data to providing a forecast of changes in affordable housing. A final report is set to be delivered on November 15.

Read the full article here.

October 12: “Bangor to consider tiny home developments”

Bangor City Council is scheduled to discuss allowing tiny home developments. The proposed ordinance would allow for “tiny home developments, something the city compared to the concept of a mobile home park… with each tiny home [being] 400 square feet or less, with a lot size of at least 1,000 feet including one parking space.” The planning board is scheduled to discuss the proposal on October 18.

Read the full article here.

October 10: “Portland voters to consider rent control changes, ban on renters’ application fees”

The Portland Press Herald outlines timely information about the upcoming November election and the implications of Question C, an initiative sponsored by the Maine chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. The proposed ordinance "presents complex changes that were developed without proper stakeholder engagement. It will hurt tenants by making it harder for landlords to operate, critics say." RHA President, Brit Vitalius, was quoted in the article:

“This is punitive stuff that is so detailed and based on nothing I’ve heard to justify any of this from the DSA other than them repeating profit for landlords, affordable housing and affordable rents (are a problem) in Portland,” said Brit Vitalius, president of the Rental Housing Alliance of Southern Maine, a nonprofit representing rental housing providers.

Read the full article here.

October 10: “Housing is top issue for South Portland council at-large candidates”

All four candidates running for two at-large seats on the South Portland City Council state that housing is one of the main issues driving them to run, with all four in agreement that housing is the city’s “biggest problem.” The candidates include: Richard Matthews, Steven Silver, Natalie West and Brendan Williams, with all but Richard Matthews being political newcomers. The article explores each candidate’s position on housing, including rent control and rent stabilization, new development, energy-efficient housing, and more. 

Read the full article here. 

From new housing developments, rent control news, election updates, and more - the RHA wants to keep our members informed of the latest local headlines. Read up on the latest headlines & news articles from the past few weeks below and stay tuned for weekly recaps every Friday.

● October 5: “South Portland gives initial approval to allowing more in-law apartments”

Earlier this week, South Portland City Council initially approved a proposal for in-law apartments to become permitted in all single-family residential zones. The council voted 4-0 to approve in an initial vote, with a second, final vote expected in November.

“Councilors praised the proposal as a significant step toward increasing housing options for people of all ages, from young professionals to older adults.”

Read the full article here.

● October 4: “Affordable housing plan underway for people with disabilities in Scarborough”

A new affordable housing project for Mainers with physical disabilities may be underway, following a vote from town councilors on whether or not to grant the housing allowances. The potential project would be located in Scarborough’s planned Town Centre, and would feature 50 ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant units, along with additional assistive and smart technology. Rents for the apartments would “range from $1,200 to $2,200 per month.”

Read the full article here.

● October 4: “Maine’s gubernatorial candidates debate: Their answers on the housing crisis”

Maine gubernatorial candidates (incumbent Janet Mills (D), former governor Paul LePage (R) and Sam Hunkler (I)) recently held their first televised debate on Tuesday, October 4, in Lewiston. Candidates discussed homelessness and housing, with WABI5 summarizing their talking points in a recent article.

Read the full article here and watch the debate here.

● October 4: “Falmouth council explores workforce housing”

The Falmouth Town Council will begin looking into the need for affordable workforce housing, following community input and input from councilors. A recent “Visions and Values” project was cited as the starter for discussion, along with data from MaineHousing. The Visions and Values report stated that “60% of residents support more affordable housing for lower- and middle-income residents,” whereas “20% of residents felt strongly that Falmouth should aim exclusively on preserving and enhancing existing home values.” Councilors will continue to discuss environmental considerations and zoning in the weeks to come.

Read the full article here.

● October 3: “Bangor will consider strengthening tenants’ rights to combat rent increases”

In Bangor, the City Council’s government operations committee is scheduled to consider an ordinance next week at its Monday night meeting that would require rental housing providers “to give 60 days’ notice for any rent increases, cap application fees and reaffirm anti-discrimination protections for renters.” The ordinance does not currently include implementing a rent control ordinance or capping rent increases.

Read the full article here.

● October 1: “MaineHousing halts rental assistance program”

MaineHousing is pausing new applications for its rental assistance program as the organization waits to hear from the federal government if a request for $55 million in additional funding for the program is approved. The emergency rental assistance program started in March of 2021 and was initially projected to last “at least through December 2022,” but MaineHousing cited that an “unanticipated tick in demand” created the need to pause the program as it awaits the approval of additional funding.

Read the full article here.

From new housing developments, rent control news, election updates, and more - the RHA wants to keep our members informed of the latest local headlines. Read up on the latest headlines & news articles from the past few weeks below and stay tuned for weekly recaps every Friday.

● September 28: “South Portland Council pushes rent control talks to next year”

The City Council has pushed talks about establishing a rent stabilization ordinance to January 10, 2023 in attempts to continue further discussions on the nuanced topic.

Under the proposed rent stabilization ordinance, landlords could “increase rents once each year at a rate up to 7 percent, plus inflation.” It would include exemptions for “rents at or below federal fair market rates; apartments less than 16 years old; landlords with fewer than 11 apartments; as well as certain nonprofits, care facilities, schools, single-room occupancies and accessory dwelling units.”

Councilor Misha Pride stated: “I appreciate the council deliberating on this, even though I don’t support rent control because I think there are too many unintended consequences.” When asked to specify on the problems attributed to rent control, Pride said “it discourages rental housing development, increases condo conversions and encourages landlords to raise rents to the maximum each year.”

Read the full article here.

● September 28: “Watch: Newsroom Live on Short-Term Rentals”

RHA President, Brit Vitalius, recently joined a panel hosted by the Portland Press Herald as part of their "Newsroom LIVE" series to discuss both Question A and Question B on the ballot this November. Listen in on this important conversation to learn more about both referendum questions and the impact they would have on the City of Portland. This is also a valuable educational resource to share with other community members or tenants! More detailed information on Question A + Question B is also available in the September 26 headline.

Watch the conversation here.

● September 26: “Pair of Portland referendums offer competing proposals for regulating short-term rentals”

Learn more about Question A + Question B in this breakdown by the Portland Press Herald. In summary, Question A, proposed by a group of short-term rental operators, seeks to limit corporate owners from registering short-term rentals. Question B, one of the questions proposed by the Maine chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, would reduce the number of short-term rentals. Both questions are being opposed by the “Enough is Enough” campaign.

Read the full article here.

● September 21: “Here's a closer look at the Portland Charter Commission proposals”

News Center Maine recaps the 13 referendum questions on the ballot this November. This recap also explains some of the criticisms surrounding the referendum questions, focusing in most on the backlash on Question 2 - which advocates for creating a “strong mayor” form of government, putting the mayor in charge as the chief executive of the city.

Read the full article here.

As the November election approaches, we have compiled the most recent information from the "Enough is Enough" campaign below with more details on how you can get involved, from door-to-door canvassing and yard signs to media resources!

• THIS WEEKEND: Go Door-to-Door With Us!

Join the "Enough is Enough" campaign and supporting community members for the next door-to-door canvassing effort!

When: THIS SATURDAY, October 1 @ 9AM

Where: Portland Chamber of Commerce Office (93 Exchange Street)

If you'd like to volunteer, please feel free to meet us at the Portland Chamber of Commerce Office to meet the team and we'll head out at 9AM! Can't make it this weekend? Email campaign@enoughisenoughportland.com to coordinate additional times!

• Show Your Support With NEW Signs 

"Enough is Enough" lawn signs are now ready! If you would like a campaign sign, please email our RHA Administrator at admin@rhamaine.org to organize a pick-up at our RHA Office (306 Congress St., Portland).

• The Latest News from "Enough is Enough":
  

1. "City Report Shows DSA Referendums Will Cost Portland Taxpayers At Least $6.5 Million Annually" 

"A report released late Thursday by Interim City Manager Danielle West shows the 13 referendum questions on Portland’s November ballot will cost taxpayers a minimum of $6.5 million each year." Read the Article.

2. "Democratic Socialists Abandon Their Own Referendum"

"The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a multi-million dollar national political organization that is targeting Portland with a series of ill-conceived referendums to establish “the most radical socialist agenda in America,” today announced they will oppose one of their own referendums. The DSA has now formally abandoned their ballot question to ban cruise ships from Portland harbor." Read the Article.

• Video: Unpacking Portland’s Competing Referendum Questions on Short-Term Rentals
  

RHA President, Brit Vitalius, recently joined a panel hosted by the Portland Press Herald as part of their "Newsroom LIVE" series to discuss both Question A and Question B on the ballot this November. RHA Members, listen in on this important conversation to learn more about both referendum questions and the impact they would have on the City of Portland. This is also a valuable educational resource to share with other community members or tenants! Watch Here.

• Looking for More Ways to Get Involved?

Visit our Advocacy page here for info on how to donate & sign-up for the campaign newsletter!

From new housing developments, rent control news, election updates, and more - the RHA wants to keep our members informed of the latest local headlines. Read up on the latest headlines & news articles from the past few weeks below and stay tuned for weekly recaps every Friday.  

• September 22: “A busy week in the push to boost Freeport housing options” 

Last week, over 30 people gathered at Freeport’s Town Hall for a public workshop to discuss the town’s need for additional affordable housing. Speakers included representatives of the Freeport Housing Trust, the town’s Social & Racial Equity Committee and the Freeport Economic Development Corporation. During the regular council meeting, members voted to reduce the minimum parking requirements in multi-family units of Freeport’s downtown, stating that the change could provide flexibility for developers and encourage new affordable housing developments. The creation of an affordable housing committee is set to be discussed at the next meeting on October 4.  

Read the full article here. 

• September 21: “Plans advance for 4-story apartment building at Brunswick Landing” 

A sustainably focused housing development is moving forward at Brunswick Landing. The 49,192-square-foot Beacon Workforce Housing project will include 63-units - thirteen of which will be Workforce Housing units made available for tenants with incomes less than the median income in Brunswick ($63,458). Brunswick requires that 15% of all new housing units be affordable and this development exceeds that minimum by 5%. The building will also be fully electric and feature sustainable siding and EV-charging stations that the developers say contribute to its long-term investment. 

Read the full article here. 

• September 14: “Local, federal leaders speak at affordable housing roundtable in Augusta” 

An affordable housing roundtable was held at the Maine State Housing Authority in Augusta earlier this month, featuring speakers from the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Housing Service and the Maine State Housing Authority. Speakers discussed a comprehensive approach, tackling equity, local employer programs, and finding “creative” ways to increase the housing stock.  

"It’s not just MaineHousing. It’s the whole infrastructure of state government that is at work trying to address this issue of getting more people involved in the trades and getting more people interested in the types of trades that build housing." - Dan Brennan, Director of the Maine State Housing Authority. 

Read the full article here. 

• September 13: “New commission says it'll focus on expanding affordable housing at all levels” 

A new commission on affordable housing met for the first time earlier this month, which included representatives from Maine's Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition. “The commission will have to strike a delicate balance between the needs of property owners who rely on short-term rentals as a source of income and Mainers who don't have stable, affordable housing, explained Judy East of Maine's Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.” The commission is scheduled to submit recommendations to the legislature this November. 

Read the full article here.

We strive to keep our members informed on what's happening in the communities we serve. See below for an update on South Portland's upcoming City Council meeting. 

• Tomorrow’s South Portland City Council meeting will discuss a draft ordinance requiring landlords to accept cash. The Council will also “hold a licensing hearing for four hotels due to the volumes and types of calls for Police and Fire/EMS service to their facilities. These hotels are renting almost exclusively to unhoused individuals” (Days Inn, Comfort Inn, Howard Johnsons, Casco Bay Hotel). Before the meeting, there will be an executive session to discuss legal duties on enforcement of the dog leash rules. 
• On Thursday the Affordable Housing Committee will discuss a draft Affordable Housing Trust Fund operations manual and if the committee should make an “advisory opinion and/or recommendations to the City Council, or taking a formal position in support or opposition” to a rent control ordinance.

As always, we encourage RHA members to get involved and comment when allowed on behalf of the housing providers community. We are looking for members to join in our advocacy efforts. If you or someone you know would be interested please reach out to our admin at admin@rhamaine.org

- The Rental Housing Alliance of Southern Maine 

The Rental Housing Alliance of Southern Maine, a local non-profit organization of rental housing property owners from across the region, is responding to recent reports that a new rent control referenda question will be on the November 2022 ballot in Portland.

Despite immediate and widespread issues caused by the implementation of Portland’s existing, nationally unprecedented, rent control policy, the Maine chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America is doubling down with a new proposal they claim will make Portland more “livable”. Specifically, they are seeking to limit annual rent increases to 70% of the Consumer Price Index, restrict deposits to one month of rent, prohibit application fees, require a 90-day notice for lease terminations or rent increases, limit rent increases to tenant-initiated turnovers, set a $25,000 fee for condominium conversions, increase the authority of the city’s rent board and permit tenant unions to represent tenants before the board.

As the leading authority on rental housing in the region, the RHA represents a group of 650+ professional rental housing providers who have dedicated themselves to maintaining and increasing the supply of economically viable, quality housing for all income levels. The Greater Portland area already faces a housing shortage and the Rent Control and Green New Deal referendum passed in Portland in 2020, as predicted by the RHA and other stakeholders, have served only to further exacerbate the issue by incentivizing rent increases, disincentivizing local housing providers, and widening the gap between rent-controlled and non-rent-controlled units.

"This is just going to break the system even more than it's already broken," Brit Vitalius, President of the RHA, said in a recent press statement. “The current rent control policy necessitates the raising of rents every year because if you get too far behind in the market it’s impossible to catch up. Our members are local small business owners trying to survive amid record inflation. Many are fed up and just selling their buildings to out of state developers who, as with Redbank in South Portland, often have a severely different approach to tenant and community relations.”

A significant piece of the RHA’s mission is to advocate for high-quality housing and responsible housing solutions. An active RHA Advocacy Committee meets regularly and will continue to fight to educate voters about the true implications of shortsighted proposals, such as this one, developed without the input of those actually providing housing, that make it increasingly impossible to create much-needed housing in Portland. “We're just tired of being held hostage by the referendum process in the city,” Vitalius said. “This is no way to govern a city.”

The full text of the measure can be viewed here on the City of Portland’s website. RHA members will receive regular updates related to advocacy efforts as the election approaches. Any rental housing providers interested in learning more or joining our efforts should contact admin@rhamaine.org.

Links to all Citizen Initiatives:

1. An Act to Eliminate the Sub-Minimum Wage, Increase Minimum Wages and Strengthen Protections for Workers

2. An Act to Protect Tenants in Portland

3. An Act to Reduce the Number of Short Term Rentals in Portland

4. An Act to Restrict Cruise Ships in Order to Reduce Congestion and Pollution

5. An Act to Regulate Short Term Rentals in Portland and Prohibit Corporate and Absentee Operation of Short Term Rental Properties

Today, the region’s leading membership organization for over 650 local housing providers announced the launch of a new identity. Previously known as the Southern Maine Landlord Association (SMLA), the Rental Housing Alliance of Southern Maine (RHA) will continue to serve rental housing providers from across the industry.

The new name, corresponding new logo, and updated website were part of a considered, collective effort made by the organization’s Board of Directors to exemplify the focus of the RHA on local outreach and its commitment to providing high-quality rental housing for communities across Southern Maine. 

Further, the launch of the RHA also includes the formal creation of an affiliated charitable arm, the RHA Foundation. The RHA Foundation will augment previous philanthropic work done by the SMLA and continue to support local organizations that address issues of housing insecurity - partnering with groups and causes for philanthropic events, fundraising initiatives, general outreach and awareness, education and advocacy, and more. The Foundation’s goal is to improve the quality of life for underprivileged members of the community and to strengthen southern Maine’s housing opportunities now and for generations to come. Additional information about The RHA Foundation will soon be made available on the RHA's website here.

“This work is the product of a year-long, thoughtful collaboration on how best to represent our members, our partners, and our community,” says Brit Vitalius, President of the RHA. “The creation and provision of safe, quality rentalhousing has never been more important. And, as our membership continues to grow and diversify, we recognized that it was time to consider an updated identity that would speak more directly to the impact our members have on their communities. We have found that in the Rental Housing Alliance of Southern Maine, and we look forward to future progress through advocacy on behalf of local housing and housing providers.” 

Originally established in April 1975 as the Greater Portland Housing Association, the RHA has since grown to a successful organization of 650+ members, representing a group of southern Maine’s rental housing owners, property managers, business owners and industry partners. The leading authority on rental housing in the region, the RHA is dedicated to its local community with a mission to promote equitable and fair business standards, strengthen tenant relations, advocate for high-quality housing and housing solutions, and educate the public and the industry on pressing issues related to housing. 

The organization’s new name is also accompanied by a new logo and revamped website. Inspired by Maine’s original state flag, and reflecting RHA’s focus on the importance of housing, the logo features a bespoke icon combining Maine’s white pine tree with a door key. A natural color palette informed by southern Maine’s landscape and a modern, minimalist font round out the RHA’s new visual identity and represents the organization’s forward-thinking outlook and mission. This branding is showcased throughout the RHA’s streamlined website, which includes updated information on membership, community engagement, advocacy, and more. 

The Rental Housing Alliance of Southern Maine, a local non-profit organization of rental housing property owners from across the region, issued a statement in response to information included in recent media reports, and presented to the South Portland City Council, related to actions taken by JRK Property Holdings, the new owner of the 500-unit Redbank Village community in South Portland.

“As a group of 500+ professional rental housing providers, who have dedicated themselves to maintaining and increasing the supply of economically viable, quality housing for all income levels, we can speak from experience and say that large-scale, blanket, rent increases are rarely, if ever, required to gain an ethical and reasonable return on investment, let alone justifiably implemented as JRK Property Holdings has decided to in South Portland. 

As with all commercial activity, price increases are necessary at times. However, for landlords, those price increases should always be based solely in pursuing a reasonable rate of return on top of real costs. This certainly does not seem to be the case at Redbank. Luckily, the scenario we are seeing there happens infrequently, and the overwhelming majority of Maine rental housing properties are owned and operated by conscientious local owners who treat their tenants with dignity and respect. When rent increases are necessary, owners work closely with tenants to avoid displacement and disruption. 

Recent media coverage has shown that society will not stand for this kind of behavior from bad actors, and the SMLA is committed to join in condemning it when warranted. While our collective condemnation as a community is necessary to ensure reasonable rent practices, extreme policy measures lead to unintended consequences for both owners and tenants, including an inevitable reduction in the availability of quality rentals for Maine’s families.  

The Greater Portland area already faces a housing shortage and pushing 60 working class families out into the stressed rental market is both traumatic for the displaced families and a burden to a community which is already struggling to provide quality housing at all income levels.”

- Brit Vitalius, President, Rental Housing Alliance of Southern Maine