Maine Tenant Law: Security Deposits, Late Fees & Landlord Entry (2026)

Security deposits

Max

2 months' rent. At move-in the landlord may not require more than the first full month's rent, the security deposit and any properly disclosed mandatory recurring fee (§ 6022-A). The deposit may not be commingled with the landlord's assets: it must be held in a bank or other financial institution account beyond the reach of the landlord's creditors, and on request the landlord must tell the tenant the institution and account number (§ 6038).

Return deadline days

30 days

Itemization required

Yes

Interest required

No interest requirement in ch. 710-A.

Source: 14 M.R.S. §§ 6032, 6033, 6034, 6038, 6022-A

Late fees

Rule

Rent is late only if not paid within 15 days of the due date, and the late fee may not exceed 4% of one month's rent. No late fee may be charged unless the tenant was told in writing, when the rental agreement was made, that a fee of up to 4% may be charged.

Source: 14 M.R.S. § 6028

Landlord entry

Notice

Reasonable notice and entry only at reasonable times, except in an emergency or where notice is impracticable; 24 hours is presumed reasonable. Unlawful, unreasonable or harassing entry lets the tenant recover actual damages or $250, whichever is greater. Any waiver of these rights is void.

Source: 14 M.R.S. § 6025

Ending a month-to-month tenancy

Tenant

At least 30 days' written notice (tenancy at will)

Landlord

At least 30 days' written notice (tenancy at will); 7 days for specified causes such as rent 7+ days in arrears or substantial damage. The notice must tell the tenant they have the right to contest the termination in court.

Source: 14 M.R.S. § 6002

Rent increases

Rule

At least 45 days' written notice before rent or a mandatory recurring fee is increased; at least 75 days' notice if the increase (or several increases within 12 months) totals 10% or more. Rent may not be increased while the unit violates the warranty of habitability (unless the tenant caused the violation). Waivers are void.

Statewide rent control

No statewide cap on the amount of rent; state law regulates notice and bars increases while the unit is uninhabitable.

Source: 14 M.R.S. §§ 6015, 6016

Repairs & habitability

Rule

Every rental carries an implied warranty that the unit is fit for human habitation; a tenant who is current on rent and gave written notice may sue if the landlord unreasonably fails to fix a dangerous condition (§ 6021). For a dangerous condition costing less than $500 or half a month's rent (whichever is greater), the tenant may notify the landlord in writing by certified mail and, if the landlord does not act within 14 days, have the work done professionally and deduct the cost from rent (§ 6026; not for buildings of 5 or fewer units where the landlord lives in one).

Source: 14 M.R.S. §§ 6021, 6026

Retaliation

Rule

An eviction action is presumed retaliatory if, within the 6 months before it was filed, the tenant asserted rights under the rent-increase, habitability or fee statutes, made a good-faith code complaint to an enforcement body, or made a good-faith written repair request to the landlord.

Source: 14 M.R.S. § 6001(3)

Clauses often unenforceable in Maine

• Absolving the landlord from liability for its own or its agent's negligence (§ 6030(2)(A))
• Making the tenant pay the landlord's legal fees for enforcing the lease (§ 6030(2)(B); narrow exception for prevailing-party fees after a contested hearing in cases of wanton disregard, § 6030(3))
• Requiring the tenant to give a lien on their property for rent or other sums (§ 6030(2)(C))
• Requiring the tenant to acknowledge that the lease or rules are fair and reasonable (§ 6030(2)(D))
• A fee or penalty just for ending the tenancy, beyond re-letting costs after a notice breach, unpaid rent or tenant-caused damage (§ 6030(2)(E))
• Waiving any tenant right under chs. 709, 710 or 710-A (§ 6030(1))
• Late fee above 4% of monthly rent or charged before rent is 15 days late (§ 6028)
• Security deposit above 2 months' rent (§ 6032)
• Waiving the landlord's duty to keep the unit free of dangerous conditions (§ 6026(5))