A Maine lease agreement is a legally binding, written document that outlines the terms and conditions between a landlord and a tenant for renting residential property. This rental agreement specifies the duration of the tenancy, rent amount, payment procedures, and the rights and responsibilities of both parties. Landlords and tenants can use it for a lease with a set end date or a month-to-month rental.
Last Updated: September 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Maine law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
Build Your Document
Answer a few simple questions to make your document in minutes
Save and Print
Save progress and finish on any device, download and print anytime
Sign and Use
Your valid, lawyer-approved document is ready
Maine lease agreements must comply with state law on security deposits and lease termination notice. The lease also typically details the tenant’s and landlord’s responsibilities, including keeping the property in safe condition and handling repairs and maintenance. Both parties can also add their own clauses on the lease term, dispute resolution, and renewal.
You end a lease in Maine by giving the other party written notice. Maine law sets notice periods for ending a tenancy at will, and either the landlord or the tenant can end it with a minimum of 30 days’ written notice. If the landlord cannot reach the tenant after at least 3 good-faith attempts, the landlord may serve the notice by mail to the tenant’s last known address. The landlord can also leave a copy at the tenant’s last and usual place of abode.[1.2]
Neither party needs a specific reason to end the lease this way, so the standard 30-day notice can be given without cause. A landlord can end the tenancy on shorter, 7 days’ written notice only by showing one of the specific grounds state law allows, with affirmative proof. One such ground is the tenant being 7 days or more behind on rent. If the tenant pays the full rent due before that notice period ends, the notice becomes void.[1.2]
Even after a landlord files for eviction, the lease must be reinstated if the tenant pays all rent owed. This includes any filing and service fees the landlord actually paid, as long as payment happens before the writ of possession issues.[1.2]
| Document Name | Maine Rental Lease Agreement Form |
| Other Names | ME Rental Lease, Maine Residential Lease Agreement |
| Relevant Laws | Maine Revised Statutes, Title 14, Chapter 710 |
| Security Deposit Return | Thirty (30) days after the end of the agreement |
| Avg. Time to Fill Out | 18 minutes |
| # of Fillable Fields | 119 |
| Available Formats | Adobe PDF |
Other Rental Lease Agreement Forms by State
To get out of a lease at will in Maine, either the landlord or the tenant gives the other party at least 30 days’ written notice. A shorter, 7-day written notice applies only when state law allows it, such as when the tenant is 7 days or more behind on rent, and the landlord must show that ground by affirmative proof.[1.2]
If a Maine landlord keeps the security deposit, or does not send a written statement explaining what was kept, past the time stated in the lease, the landlord forfeits the right to withhold any part of that deposit.[2.3] That time cannot exceed 30 days from the end of the lease.[2.2]
A victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking can end a Maine lease early. The notice period depends on the lease length:
Both options require the documentation Maine law requires.[1.2]
When a Maine lease ends, the landlord must return the security deposit within the time stated in the written lease, and that time cannot exceed 30 days.[2.2] The landlord cannot keep any part of the deposit to cover normal wear and tear from ordinary use of the property.[2.1]
If the landlord does not return the deposit or send a written statement explaining what was kept within that time, the landlord forfeits the right to withhold any part of the deposit.[2.3]
If a landlord fails to provide a written statement or to return the security deposit within the time specified in subsection 2, the landlord shall forfeit his right to withhold any portion of the security deposit.
General information, not legal or tax advice.
