schedule a public hearing to be held no more than twenty-one (21)
days after the filing of the completed appeal application. At the
public hearing, the Board will consider de novo the rent charged
under the existing Rental Agreement, the amount of the proposed
new rent, and the factors which may or may not allow such an
increase in accordance with this Article. Upon consideration of
such evidence, the Board will render a decision as to whether the
increased rent is allowable. An increase determined by the Board
to be more than is allowed by this Article shall be considered a
violation and the Board may determine the appropriate penalty
for any such violation in a manner consistent with the
provisions of this Code. Multiple tenants collectively alleging
the same or similar violations against a single Landlord,
including but not limited to a Tenants Union or members of or
participants in a Tenants Union, may file their complaints or
appeals collectively as a single document, and the Rent Board
shall hear all such matters together as a single complaint or
appeal; but notwithstanding such consolidated hearing the Rent
Board may elect to issue separate decisions.
f) A landlord who is not in substantial compliance with any
provision of this chapter, including but not limited to the Rent
Stabilization Ordinance, may not demand, accept or retain any
rent increase otherwise permitted by this section or any other
provision of this Code or Maine statute.
(By Referendum, 11-3-2020; By Referendum, 11-8-2022)