Former Portland, Maine, mayor facing eviction from apartment

Former Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling is facing eviction from his Congress Street apartment as the building’s landlord goes before the city’s Rent Board over complaints from tenants about unfair rent hikes.

Strimling, who advocated for more tenant protection during his time as mayor, says the eviction is retaliation for forming a tenants union at the Trelawny Building to address concerns with landlord Geoffrey Rice about increases that violated a new city ordinance. The Trelawny Tenants Union has filed complaints with the city about rent increases that will be discussed Wednesday night by the Rent Board. Strimling and his attorney, Scott Dolan, allege that Rice started eviction proceedings after the union was formed. Under Maine law, a landlord cannot evict a tenant “in retaliation for the tenant’s membership in an organization concerned with landlord-tenant relationships.”

“This is a clear case of retaliation in an attempt to break the Trelawny Tenants Union. Thanks to TTU, Mr. Rice has been forced to retract and refund illegal rent increases, fix fire hazards, release public documents and inform tenants of their rights under the law,” Strimling said in a statement. “We will take this as far as need be to protect the rights of all tenants to organize and fight for better living conditions.”

According to court records, Strimling was first notified last May that his month-t0-month lease would not be continued. He was served on Aug. 31 with a 90-day written Notice of Termination and Notice to Quit terminating his lease when it expired on Dec. 1. Strimling refused to leave the building after Dec. 1, according to a complaint filed in Maine District Court by the owner of the building, Trelawny 657 LLC.

https://www.pressherald.com/2022/01/25/former-portland-mayor-facing-eviction-from-congress-street-apartment/