Maine Month-to-Month Rental Agreement
A Maine month-to-month rental agreement is a flexible tenancy arrangement that allows both landlords and tenants to maintain the lease until either party decides to terminate it. This type of agreement remains in effect until proper notice is given by either party.
Maine Month-to-Month Rental Agreement
Legal Requirements for Month-to-Month Leases
Termination Notice
Either party may terminate a month-to-month lease by providing a written notice of at least 30 days. This notice period includes weekends and holidays.
Rent Increase
Landlords must provide 45 days’ written notice before increasing rent. If the rent increase is 10% or more, landlords must give 75 days’ notice. This requirement applies if the total increases within a year add up to 10% or more.
Required Lease Disclosures
Landlords are required to provide the following disclosures to tenants:
- Bedbugs Infestation Disclosure: Tenants must be informed if any units in the rental property were infested or treated for bedbugs.
- Common Area Utilities Disclosure: Tenants cannot be held responsible for utilities in common areas unless both parties agree in writing and the tenant’s rent is reduced.
- Energy Efficiency Disclosure: This form must be given to any tenants responsible for paying utilities.
- Lead-Based Paint Disclosure: For properties built before 1978, landlords must inform tenants about the potential presence of lead-based paint.
- Radon Disclosure Form: Tenants must receive information regarding radon gas levels on the property and associated risks.
- Rental Housing Rights Disclosure Form (City of Portland ONLY): This document explains tenant rights specific to the city of Portland.
- Security Deposit Location: Landlords must disclose the institution and account number where the tenant’s security deposit is held.
- Smoking Policy Disclosure: Landlords are required to inform tenants of the rental property’s smoking policy.
Maine Month-to-Month Eviction
To end a month-to-month or at-will tenancy, landlords must provide a 30-day notice to tenants. This notice includes weekends and holidays.
Non-Payment of Rent
For non-payment of rent, tenants receive a 7-day notice to pay or vacate, excluding weekends and holidays.
Lease Violations
For lease violations, landlords can issue either a 7-day notice or a 30-day notice to vacate, depending on the nature of the breach. The 7-day notice excludes weekends and holidays, while the 30-day notice includes all days.
Statutes
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6001(1-B) – [Effective 1/1/2025] Availability of remedy
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6001(3) – [Effective 1/1/2025] Availability of remedy
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6002 – Tenancy at will; buildings on land of another
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6003 – Jurisdiction
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6010-A – Landlord’s Duty to Mitigate
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6014(1) – Remedies for illegal evictions
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6014(1A) – Remedies for illegal evictions
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6015 – [Effective 1/1/2025] Notice of rent or mandatory recurring fee increase
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6021 – Implied warranty and covenant of habitability
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6021-A – Treatment of Bedbug Infestation
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6022 – Receipts for rent payments and security deposits
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6022-A – [Effective 1/1/2025] Limit on initial amount paid by tenant
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6024 – Heat and Utilities in Common Areas
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6025(2) – Access to Premises
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6025 – Access to Premises
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6026(2) – Dangerous Conditions Requiring Minor Repairs
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6028 – Penalties for late payment of rent
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6030-B – Lead Disclosures
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6030-C – Residential Energy Efficiency Disclosure Statement
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6030-D – Radon Testing
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6030-E – Smoking Policy
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6030-H – Fees charged to applicants for lease of residential dwelling unit
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6032 – Maximum security deposit
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6033 – Return of the Security Deposit
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6034 – Wrongful retention; damages
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6037(2)
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6038 – Treatment of security deposit
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6038 – Treatment of Security Deposit
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6039 – Surety Bonds
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6041 – Installation; consent of building owner required
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6041 – Installation; consent of building owner required
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6071 – Civil Penalties for Bad Checks
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 7482 – Definition of a Small Claim
- Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 752 – Six Years
- 14 M.R.S. § 6026 – Tenant’s Duties
FAQs
A Maine month-to-month rental agreement is a flexible lease arrangement that allows both landlords and tenants to continue the tenancy until either party decides to terminate it. The agreement remains active until proper notice is given, typically requiring a 30-day notice to quit.
To terminate a month-to-month lease in Maine, either party must provide a notice of at least 30 days. This notice period includes weekends and holidays.
Landlords in Maine must provide at least 45 days’ written notice to increase rent. If the increase is 10% or more, a 75-day notice is required.
Maine rental agreements require several disclosures, including a Radon Disclosure Form, Bedbugs Infestation Disclosure, Lead-Based Paint Disclosure, and a Smoking Policy. Additionally, landlords must inform tenants about security deposits and energy efficiency.
In Maine, to evict a month-to-month tenant, landlords must provide a 30-day notice to vacate. For non-payment of rent, a 7-day notice is given, while lease violations may warrant either a 7-day or 30-day notice, depending on the severity of the breach.
If a tenant fails to pay rent in Maine, the landlord must issue a 7-day notice to pay or vacate. This notice excludes weekends and holidays, giving the tenant a short timeframe to address the non-payment.
Yes, in Portland, landlords must provide a Rental Housing Rights Disclosure Form, which explains the rights of tenants. This is in addition to the standard disclosures required throughout Maine.
The 30-day notice is significant because it is the minimum requirement for either party to terminate a month-to-month lease in Maine. It ensures that both landlords and tenants have a clear understanding of their rights and responsibilities regarding lease termination.