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Tenant Repair Laws in Maine

In Maine, if a landlord does not fix a dangerous condition within 14 days of written notice sent by certified mail, a tenant may repair it and deduct up to $500 or half a month's rent, whichever is greater.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Maine at a glance

Repair and deduct
Yes, up to $500 or half a month's rent
Does not apply to buildings of 5 or fewer units where the landlord lives in one. Licensed professionals must do electrical, oil burner and plumbing work.
Landlord repair deadline
14 days after certified mail notice
Sooner in an emergency (as promptly as conditions require).

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Maine

Can a tenant repair and deduct the cost from rent in Maine?

Yes, up to $500 or half a month's rent. Repair and deduct in Maine: yes, up to $500 or half a month's rent. Does not apply to buildings of 5 or fewer units where the landlord lives in one. Licensed professionals must do electrical, oil burner and plumbing work.

How long does a landlord have to make repairs after notice in Maine?

Landlord repair deadline in Maine: 14 days after certified mail notice. Sooner in an emergency (as promptly as conditions require).

Where do the Maine tenant repair laws come from?

The rules above come from 14 M.R.S. 6026 and 14 M.R.S. 6021. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

A tenant who was current on rent when notice was given may also sue under the warranty of habitability, and the court may set a reduced rent value and order repairs (14 M.R.S. 6021).

A 2025 amendment (P.L. 2025, c. 515) made it a breach of the warranty of habitability to rent a unit with a leak, chronic moisture or humidity outside the tenant's control that leads to mold or similar growth (14 M.R.S. 6021).

What this means in practice

Give notice in writing and keep a copy. Tenant repair remedies usually start running only after the landlord has received notice of the problem, and a dated letter or email is the easiest way to prove when that happened.

Document the condition before and after. Photos, videos, inspection reports from a local code office and receipts for any repair work help show that the problem was serious and that any amount deducted or withheld matches the actual cost.

Stay current on everything else. Repair remedies generally protect only tenants who are not otherwise behind on rent and who did not cause the damage, and using a remedy the state does not allow can be treated as nonpayment of rent and lead to an eviction case.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.