PORTLAND, Maine — Portland city leaders are apologizing after threatening violation notices were mistakenly mailed to 2,000 property owners.
The letters were intended for hundreds of landlords who still haven’t paid the fee for each of their rental units, but because of technical and human error they were also sent to thousands of other people.
Amanda Carr found the letter in her mailbox at 5 p.m. Friday, telling her she was in violation of city code and could be prosecuted, as well as fined $100 per day.
As the owner of a single-family home that’s not rented out, she said she was confused but unable to call the city for help over the three-day holiday weekend.
“Other than a weekend of on and off worrying about it, it wasn’t a big deal, but certainly something you hope the city was keeping a little bit better tabs on what they were doing,” Carr said.
The city manager is sending out an apology letter to all 2,700 people who received the original.
This is all part of Portland’s effort to make rental housing safer, and this is the first time landlords have had to register their units and pay a fee.