A Maine lease agreement is a contract between a landlord and a tenant to use a rental property. This form defines the lease term’s length and the rent amount owed each month. Additionally, lease agreements in Maine outline the responsibilities of both the landlord and tenant(s) and the consequences and solutions to potential problems.
Laws
Required Lease Disclosures
Lease agreements are governed by the specific landlord-tenant laws of Maine (Title 14, Chapter 710: Rental Property, Maine Revised Statutes). Some major regulations are as follows:
- Radon testing is necessary within 12 months of a tenant’s occupancy of the rental property (§ 6030-D).
- Bedbugs disclosure – Required if there is an infestation on the premises (§ 6021-A).
- Security deposits – Bank name and account number must be disclosed (§ 6038).
- Utilities in common areas will not be covered by the tenant (§ 6024).
- Under federal law, lead-based paint disclosure is to be provided to the tenant before occupancy (Title 42 U.S. Code § 4852(d)).
- For tenants who pay utilities, an energy efficiency disclosure is required (§ 6030-C).
- Smoking policies on the rental property must be disclosed (§ 6030-E).
Security Deposit
A landlord may collect up to two months’ rent from a tenant as a security deposit (§ 6032).
The deposit must be returned to the tenant within 30 days for a fixed lease and 21 days for a month-to-month lease (§ 6033).
Landlord Right of Entry
A landlord must provide at least one day’s advance notice to a tenant before entering the rental property (§ 6025).
Sample
Our Maine residential lease agreement template below defines all necessary rental terms.
