Maine Tenant Rights & Landlord Obligations

MaxM Directory automatically monitors properties against Maine statutory requirements. This page summarises the applicable rules and flags any known compliance issues.

Use this page to review your rights as a tenant, understand which statutory rules apply to your rental, and see whether any active violations have been flagged for a specific property.

Maine Statutory Compliance Reference

The rules below are checked automatically whenever tenancy, maintenance, or deposit data is updated. Violations appear on the property's Overview tab and affect the Transparency Score.

💰 Security Deposit

Violation Security Deposit — 21-Day Return Deadline

Landlord must return the security deposit (or provide itemized deduction statement) within 21 days after the tenant vacates.
Maine MRS Title 14 §6033
Statutory threshold: 21 days
Violation Security Deposit — Maximum 2 Months Rent

Security deposit may not exceed two months' rent for a residential tenancy.
Maine MRS Title 14 §6032

🏠 Habitability

Violation Habitability Hazard — 14-Day Remediation Requirement

Landlord must address a reported habitability hazard (heat, hot water, structural safety) within 14 days of written notice. Failure constitutes a breach of the warranty of habitability.
Maine MRS Title 14 §6021
Statutory threshold: 14 days
Critical Heat — Minimum Temperature Requirement

Landlord must provide heat capable of maintaining a minimum indoor temperature of 68°F between October 15 and May 15.
Maine MRS Title 14 §6021(3)
Critical Hot Water — Landlord Obligation

Landlord must provide an adequate supply of hot water to all plumbing fixtures intended for tenant use.
Maine MRS Title 14 §6021(4)
Critical Retaliatory Eviction or Rent Increase Prohibited

Landlord may not evict, raise rent, or reduce services in retaliation for a tenant exercising any right protected under Maine law (e.g., reporting code violations).
Maine MRS Title 14 §6001-B

📅 Notice Requirements

Warning Notice Period — Month-to-Month Tenancy (30 Days)

Either party must give at least 30 days written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy.
Maine MRS Title 14 §6002
Statutory threshold: 30 days
Warning Eviction Notice — Non-Payment of Rent (7 Days)

A landlord must give at least 7 days written notice before commencing eviction proceedings for non-payment of rent.
Maine MRS Title 14 §6002(1)
Statutory threshold: 7 days

🔧 Maintenance

Violation Maintenance Request — Unaddressed Beyond Urgency Threshold

Emergency maintenance requests unaddressed for 3+ days, or urgent requests unaddressed for 14+ days, constitute a potential habitability issue and score penalty.
Maine MRS Title 14 §6021
Statutory threshold: 14 days