Maine Rental Laws
| Termination for Nonpayment Notice (Eviction Notice) | 7-Day Notice §6002. Tenancy at will; buildings on land of another The tenant has to be at least 7 Days late before a notice can be posted. An eviction notice must include language regarding the rights of the tenants to contest the eviction. If such language is not included, any default judgment entered against the tenant may be canceled. |
| Termination for Lease Violation Notice | 7-Day Notice §6002. Tenancy at will; buildings on land of another An eviction notice must include language regarding the rights of the tenants to contest the eviction. If such language is not included, any default judgment entered against the tenant may be canceled. |
| Small Claim Court Limit | Main Small Claim Court Limit is $6,000 |
| Handling Abandoned Property | §6013. Property unclaimed by tenant §6005. Writ of possession; service |
| Penalty for Self-Help Eviction | Actual damages or $250, whichever is greater §6014. Remedies for illegal evictions |
| Tenant Withholding Rent for Repairs | §6021. Implied warranty and covenant of habitability §6026. Dangerous conditions requiring minor repairs |
| Required Disclosures | §6024-A. Landlord failure to pay for utility service Radon §6030-D. Radon testing Bedbugs §6021-A. Treatment of bedbug infestation Smoking Policy §6030-E. Smoking policy Late Payment Fee §6028. Penalties for late payment of rent Disclosure of where the security deposit is held |
| Non-Refundable Fees | |
| Security Deposit Rules | Security Deposit Amount: up to 2 months; Deadline to itemize and return deposit: 30 Days if there is a written rental agreement; 21 Days for tenancy at will Escrow account required §6031. Definitions (normal wear and tear) §6032. Maximum security deposit §6033. Return of the security deposit §6034. Wrongful retention; damages §6035. Transfer of security deposit §6036. Waiver of provisions §6037. Exemptions Owner-occupied buildings of 5 or fewer units. This chapter shall not apply to any tenancy for a dwelling unit which is part of a structure containing no more than 5 dwelling units, one of which is occupied by the landlord. §6038. Treatment of security deposit §6039. Surety bonds |
| Month-to-Month Notice | 30 Days to terminate; 45 Days to increase rent |
| Payment of Rent | A payment of rent is late if it is not made within 15 days from the time the payment is due. A landlord may not assess a penalty for the late payment of rent which exceeds 4% of the amount due for one month. Rent receipt for each rent payment required. §6028. Penalties for late payment of rent |
| Property Entry Notice | 24 hours |
