Seniors in Limerick Face 50% Rent Hike

Political pressure and media attention appear to be having at least a marginal impact on the 50% lot rent hike in Limerick Township. 

For starters, the owner of Willow Run – Longview Property Group (Malvern) – has delayed the increase until Oct. 1. That was an obvious move, given the fact that Longview did not give the required 30-day notice of a rental increase. In addition, there is a pending offer for residents to sign a new lease, which includes a sliding scale “rebate” on rent paid. In October, residents could claim a rebate for the full increase on rent paid -- $310. In subsequent months, the rebate would be reduced by $30 each month.

So after 10 months under the new lease, the 150 or so households in the age 55 and older community will still be paying more than $300 per month in rent than they did in July 2025. How many of us would be able to absorb that? 

Residents feel stuck with very few alternatives. 

“Where are we going to go for less?” one woman wondered at their Friday clubhouse meeting. 

Many have surmised that Longview’s price gouging move was in direct response to legislation moving in Harrisburg. House Bill 1250 (Hanbidge/Webster/Cerrato) passed the House with strong bipartisan support in June, but has since stalled in the Senate. It would cap year-over-year lot rent increases for manufactured homes at roughly the rate of inflation. ***In these communities, residents own their homes and rent the land. 

Dan Verbo, president of the Village of Willow Run Community Association, believes the potential passage of that bill into law may be what’s driving the rent increase. “Three percent of $600 is much less than three percent of $900,” he told the Mercury. 

“The rent used to be tied to the cost of living increases, but back in 2000, they added market value to the calculation,” said Verbo, who lives in Willow Run with his wife Tina, both of whom retired 10 years ago.

“The most egregious part of this is there are people here who have lived here for 20 years who are surviving on a fixed income,” he said. “How are they supposed to come up with double the rent in a month?”

Fox 29 also ran a piece on this situation. 

State Rep. Joe Ciresi has reached out to multiple offices, including the state Attorney General, county District Attorney, Montgomery County Commissioners, as well as colleagues in the House and Senate to see what could potentially forestall the increase while HB 1250 meanders the legislative process. Residents are doing their part as well. They canvassed Limerick Community Day last Saturday and have been calling and emailing their representatives. They appear to have a lot of fight left. 

This whole situation underlines the urgency of action at every level of government to address the out-of-control price of a life essential — Housing. 

Mike Hays, the director of Montco 30% Project, works as chief of staff for Rep. Ciresi.