Property management companies and landlords use rental applications to gather information and determine prospective tenants’ ability to meet their obligations.
A standard Maine Rental Application allows you to spot problematic tenant issues by investigating an applicant’s rental history, verifying their income and finances, and running background checks.
Vetting applicants is an important part of the lease agreement process that landlords and property managers should not ignore.
Maine Rental Application Fees
There is no maximum limit on rental application fees in Maine.
Landlords typically charge applicants a reasonable application fee to cover out-of-pocket expenses associated with tenant screening.
Maine Security Deposit Limits
For most Maine landlords, 14 Maine Rev. Stat. § 6032 limits security deposits to no more than two months’ rent.
Mobile home parks may charge up to three months’ rent under 10 Maine Rev. Stat. § 9098.
Additional Security Deposit Provisions in Maine
Maine’s landlord-tenant laws govern the handling and return of security deposits.
- Holding requirements — Maine landlords must hold deposits in a financial institution and cannot commingle them with the landlord’s other assets. Tenants can request the institution’s name and the account number.
- Providing receipts — Upon a tenant’s request, a Maine landlord must provide receipts for rental payments and security deposits. Properties with fewer than five residential units are exempt if the landlord occupies one of the units.
- Returning deposit funds — Upon lease termination and within 30 days of the end of the agreement, the landlord must return the full security deposit or supply an itemized list of deposit deductions and the remaining balance. In a tenancy-at-will, the deadline is 21 days from termination or surrender of the property —whichever comes later.
If Maine landlords fail to return security deposits or wrongfully retain funds, tenants may be able to recover up to double their damages plus legal fees.
Authorization for Background Checks
Using a Maine rental application allows one to spot red flags in a renter’s history before entering into a legally binding lease agreement.
A background check authorization form permits landlords to conduct background checks on the applicant, from criminal history to credit reporting.
Landlords must disclose how they will use an applicant’s information in the objective tenant screening process.
How To Conduct an Eviction Record Search in Maine
You can use a third-party service to gather eviction records or access them for free via Maine’s public portal:
- Open Maine’s eCourt Public Portal.
- Select “Smart Search” at the bottom of the page.
- Enter the applicant’s first and last name.
- Click a case number to view available records.
A potential tenant’s rental history, including past evictions, is critical in evaluating a Maine rental application.
Additional Resources for Maine Landlords
Familiarizing yourself with Maine’s housing regulations simplifies the rental application process and prevents discrimination complaints.
Maine Laws on Fair Housing
Maine law and the Federal Fair Housing Act make it illegal to discriminate against applicants based on national origin, race, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), color, familial status, or disability status.
Under additional protections of the Maine Fair Housing Act, landlords may not deny a Maine rental application due to a tenant’s ancestry, receipt of public financial assistance, or order of protection under 19-A Maine Rev. Stat. § 4007.
Sex Offender Registry in Maine
Maine law does not impose residency restrictions on registered sex offenders.
However, it does allow municipalities to adopt their ordinances regarding offenders convicted of severe crimes against victims under 14 years old.
You can search applicants in the Maine Sex Offender Registry as part of your tenant screening process.
How to Write a Rental Application
Follow the steps below to write a rental application in Maine.
Step 1 – Fill in Property Address Information
Write the date of the rental application and the address of the rental property.
Step 2 – Collect Basic Rental Applicant Information
This section provides the applicant(s) basic identifying information about themselves.
Step 3 – Collect Applicant’s Residence History
In this section, the applicant(s) provides their residence history including addresses, dates of residency, and reasons for moving.
Step 4 – Gather Applicant’s Employment History
This section is for the applicant(s) to provide current and previous employment information and other sources of income.
Step 5 – Gather Applicant’s Financial History
This section is for the applicant(s) to provide bank account and credit card information.
Step 6 – Collect References
The applicant(s) provides personal references’ names and contact information in this section.
Step 7 – Additional Questions and Verification
This section contains additional questions to determine more information about the applicant such as smoking or pets.
Sample Maine Rental Application Form
Below is an example of what a Maine rental application form looks like.
You may download it for free or use our document builder to create a customized rental application adapted to your real estate needs.