Free Maine Residential Lease Agreement Form
Create a residential lease agreement that meets all the requirements necessary in Maine State. Start today with the help of step-by-step instructions and our contract generator.
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What Is a Maine Lease Agreement
A Maine lease agreement is used to establish the terms and conditions that a landlord and tenant must follow in regard to a rental property. It is written in a way that complies with the laws of the state in which the property is located.
Lease agreements are similar to rental agreements as they are both legally binding contracts that define the terms of use and payment plans for a property. However, a lease agreement typically covers long-term leases while a rental agreement deals with short-term tenancies.
The following information should be included in a Maine lease agreement.
Period of time in which the tenant can occupy the property
Amount of rent that should be paid
Details about security deposits
Frequency of rental payments
Information about additional costs
Usage terms of the property
Eviction terms and procedures
Types of Maine Lease Agreements
Before starting a Maine lease agreement, it is important to know which type to create. There are many distinct varieties of these legal instruments, and each deals with a different type of rental situation.
The most common types of lease agreements in Maine include:
Type of Lease Agreement | Description |
---|---|
Standard | Fixed set of terms that both the landlord and tenant commit to for a series of months or years. |
Rent-to-own | Rent-to-own options allow the possibility for tenants to purchase the property they are renting. |
Month-to-month | Similar basic terms to standard lease agreements, but they can be renewed or ended each month. |
Commercial | Utilized by tenants that intend to use a piece of real estate to run a business. |
Room rental | For rental properties that are located within shared living areas. |
Condo or mixed unit | Used by landlords of properties that have multiple rental units, such as duplexes or cooperatives. |
Sublease | Permits tenants to assign or “sublease” the property to another person. |
Disclosures for Maine Lease Agreements
There are various disclosures and addendums that must be contained within Maine lease agreementswhen they are completed and signed. These are made to inform the tenant about any health risks, potential issues, or details about how the property is managed.
The list below includes the essential addendums in Maine:
Bedbug disclosure: If either the rental unit or an adjacent unit is being treated or has a bedbug infestation, the tenant must be told in writing (§ 6021-A).
Electricity to common areas: You must show in the contract that both parties agree to receive bills for any utilities used on the properties for common areas in multi-unit buildings, such as hallways or stairways. You can’t bill tenants without acknowledgment of this mutual agreement (§ 6024).
Energy efficiency disclosure: The landlord or property manager must provide the tenant with information on the rental unit’s energy efficiency if the tenant will pay extra for the utility costs (§ 6030-C). An acknowledgment of this information must be signed by the tenant.
Lead paint disclosure: Landlords must disclose whether lead paint can be found on the property (if the building was constructed before 1978).
Radon gas disclosure form: Maine landlords from 2012 onwards must check their property once every 10 years for the presence of Radon gas (§ 6030-D). The findings of these checks must be communicated via a Radon disclosure form, which must be given to every tenant. The tenant(s) must sign the form acknowledging they have received the information.
Rental housing rights disclosure: If the rental unit is in Portland, Maine the tenant must be given a copy of the Rental Housing Rights Disclosure form before moving in.
Security deposit holding location: You must notify the prospective tenant on how the security deposit will be collected and held (§ 6038).
Smoking policy: The landlord must state upfront in the contract what the smoking policy is for the rental unit and the premises if it is a multi-unit building (§ 6030-E).
Maine Lease Agreement Laws
For aMaine lease agreement to be legally binding and valid, it must be written according to the laws of ME state. If this is not done properly, the contract will be legally contestable and could be declared invalid when put under scrutiny. These rules will also determine what kind of procedures and terms you may ask the tenant to abide by.
The overview below includes the most important laws to consider when renting a property in Maine:
Law | Specifics |
---|---|
Maximum security deposit | The maximum security deposit that can be charged in Maine, is two months’ rent (§ 6032). |
Returning a security deposit | The security deposit amount must be given back to the tenant within 30 days of the date the tenant vacates the property if they have a fixed lease, or 21 days if there is a month-to-month contract (§ 6033). If any deductions will be taken from the security deposit, the tenant must be informed of these in advance of its return. |
Landlord’s right to enter | Landlords must give 24 hours’ advance notice before entering the rental property for non-emergency reasons (§ 6025). |
Maine Residential Lease Agreement Sample
Creating and putting a lease agreement into action in Maine is a major commitment. It can help to explore an example template first to get a clear idea of what information should be found in your completed document. Our sample Maine lease agreement below can help you understand the details included in this legal arrangement a little better.

Other Real Estate Documents
Besides lease agreements, there are various other legal documents that are commonly used by landlords. If you are the owner of a rental property, one of the following forms may be helpful for you:
FAQs About Maine Lease Agreement
It is important to carefully prepare a Maine lease agreement to suit the needs of the landlord and tenant exactly.
To help demystify the process a little, simply review our FAQs below to learn more about the specificities of rental contracts in Maine.
How to Write Your Own Maine Lease Agreement?
It is possible to create a Maine lease agreement completely online. Using our residential lease agreement maker you can tailor your document for your specific needs and take advantage of professional templates and expert tips.
What Is The Difference Between a Maine Lease Agreement or Maine Rental Agreement?
There is a key difference between a Maine lease agreement and aMaine rental agreement, which is the length of duration that they each cover.
Lease agreements are normally longer-term arrangements that can last several months or even years, in which their terms remain fixed. Rental agreements on the other hand are shorter-term in nature but are more flexible and may be changed on a weekly or monthly basis.
Can a Lease Be Negotiated in Maine?
Yes, a Maine residential lease agreement can be negotiated before it is signed. The landlord and tenant will usually discuss the terms before the agreement is put into action. However, once a lease agreement is signed it cannot be altered until it comes to its natural end or is canceled.

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