Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 30-A, §§ 4971–4978, 4743, 4994-D § 4971
Purpose
Operative Text
The State is experiencing severe shortages of affordable housing in various parts of the State. The affordable housing shortage is contributing to an ever-increasing class of working poor people and creating severe hardships for a significant number of Maine citizens. The housing shortage problem may soon be intensified by the conversion of moderate-income and low-income rental housing units into housing for higher income persons and families. Many moderate-income and low-income rental housing units were constructed with federal assistance nearly 20 years ago with an agreement that the mortgagee may pay the mortgage after 20 years and not be subject to any of the restrictions in the initial agreement. As the mortgagees pay the mortgages, it is essential for the State to preserve as much of this housing as possible at affordable costs for the citizens of the State.
Maine law under 30-A M.R.S. §§ 4971 et seq. establishes the legislative purpose behind the state's affordable housing protections, recognizing that severe shortages of affordable housing are causing hardship for a significant number of Maine residents. The provision identifies a specific threat: federally assisted rental housing built roughly 20 years prior to the law's enactment could be converted to higher-income use once original mortgage restrictions expire. The stated goal of this section is to frame the state's interest in preserving affordable housing stock for low- and moderate-income residents.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating federally assisted housing in Maine should be aware that 30-A M.R.S. §§ 4971 et seq. was enacted specifically in response to concerns about the expiration of affordability restrictions tied to federal mortgage agreements. Operators whose properties were built with federal assistance and whose original mortgage terms are nearing or have reached maturity are the primary focus of this statutory framework. Understanding the legislative intent behind this provision helps operators anticipate the broader regulatory context that subsequent sections of the statute establish.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in federally assisted or subsidized rental housing in Maine have a stake in the protections that flow from the legislative findings in 30-A M.R.S. §§ 4971 et seq., which acknowledge the hardship caused by affordable housing shortages and the risk of displacement when affordability restrictions expire. This purpose section signals that the legislature intended the broader statute to protect residents of low- and moderate-income housing from losing their homes to conversion or rent increases tied to expiring federal agreements. Tenants who believe their housing may be affected by such a conversion can look to tenant-rights organizations or local legal aid services for information about what specific protections the statute provides.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation