Residents of three Auburn mobile home parks hope the City Council will put a pause on rent increases following steep hikes over the past year.

Ja-Lynne Mobile Home Park, Washington Street Mobile Home Park and Stevens Mill Mobile Home Park have experienced high increases in lot rents recently, as much as $110 for some residents last fall, according to Dan Neumann of the Maine Labor Climate Council.

The residents plan to speak at Monday’s council meeting during the public comment period, asking for a moratorium on lot rents within the city.

Maine Labor Climate Council started organizing mobile home park residents last summer, helping neighbors come together to discuss how they can push for solutions to issues like steep lot rent increases, Neumann said.

Residents in Auburn started meeting last month to discuss rent increases, maintenance issues and housing insecurity, he said. As maintenance declines, it is unclear what is justifying some residents’ lot rent increases.

“Many residents say they are at risk of homelessness and are struggling to afford basic necessities. Many are elderly and on fixed incomes,” he said.

Mobile home park residents in towns across Maine have reported similar trends in recent years. Residents in a mobile home park in Sabattus last summer experienced steep lot rent increases. Owners of that park blamed it on new state mobile home legislation.

Neumann said changes in ownership are often involved.

“We’re hearing the same story from hundreds of residents of manufactured home parks across Maine: Corporate owners sweep in, jack up fees with barely any notice and neglect basic living conditions. We’re helping residents organize against this and we need our towns to stand with us,” he said.

So far the labor council has successfully helped push for lot rent affordability measures in Sanford, Saco, Waterville and Old Orchard Beach, Neumann said, while other towns in Maine including Jay are looking at the issue.

Residents want the Auburn City Council to enact a moratorium on lot rent increases until a lot rent stabilization ordinance can be implemented, he said.

“A rent moratorium in Auburn is a necessary step toward stabilizing costs for the Mainers who live in these parks,” he said.