Maine Security Deposit Laws: Limits, Return Deadlines, and Deductions
A complete guide to Maine security deposit regulations, including the two-month limit, separate bank account requirements, and 21/30 day return deadlines.
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Unlike states where landlords can freely commingle funds, Maine treats tenant security deposits with extreme strictness. Landlords must safeguard the money in specific accounts and follow aggressive timelines for its return to avoid double damages.
Official Law Citation: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 14, Chapter 710-A (Security Deposits on Residential Rental Units).
Maine Deposit Return Timeline in maine
Tenant Surrenders Premises
The tenant officially hands over the keys and vacates the rental unit.
Inspection
The landlord inspects the unit to identify damages beyond normal wear and tear.
Calculate Deductions
Landlord gathers receipts and itemizes all legal deductions from the deposit.
Return Deadline
Within 21 days for tenancies at will, or up to 30 days for fixed written leases, the landlord mails the remaining balance and itemized list.
Security Deposit Limits
The Two-Month Rule
In Maine, a landlord cannot demand a security deposit that exceeds the equivalent of two months' rent.
- If a tenant has a pet or if utility deposits are required, these separate deposits do not count toward the two-month legal limit, provided they are explicitly designated as such.
Protections for Vulnerable Populations
Maine law carves out an exception for seniors and disabled tenants. If a prospective tenant is 62 years of age or older, or if they possess a legally recognized disability, the landlord can only charge a maximum deposit equal to one month's rent.
Note: Mobile home park tenancies have a higher cap of three months' rent.
Holding the Deposit Safely
A Maine landlord cannot mix a security deposit with their personal or business operating funds.
The funds must be deposited into a separate, designated bank account located within the state of Maine. This ensures the tenant's money is shielded from the landlord's personal creditors in the event of bankruptcy or foreclosure.
While Maine law does not strictly demand the account be interest-bearing for landlords with fewer than five units, if the account does yield interest, it typically belongs to the tenant. Upon request, a landlord must provide the tenant with the name, location, and account number of the bank holding the deposit.
The Return Deadlines: 21 vs. 30 Days
The deadline a landlord has to return a security deposit upon move-out relies entirely on the nature of the tenancy:
- Written Lease: The landlord has up to 30 days to return the deposit (or the remaining balance accompanied by an itemized list of deductions).
- Tenancy at Will (No Lease): The landlord has only 21 days to return the deposit.
Itemized Deductions
If a landlord is not returning the full deposit, they must draft a written statement summarizing every deduction and the estimated or actual cost of the repair. Allowable deductions include:
- Unpaid rent or utility bills.
- The cost to repair severe damage (e.g., holes in drywall, torn carpets).
- Extreme cleaning costs if the unit was left in a biohazardous condition.
Landlords cannot deduct for normal wear and tear, such as faded paint or minor scuffs on the floor.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
If a landlord misses the 21- or 30-day deadline, or wrongfully withholds the funds without proper itemization, the tenant is empowered to sue.
In Maine, a court can order a landlord who wrongfully retains a deposit to pay the tenant double the amount wrongfully withheld, in addition to the tenant's court costs and attorney's fees. Furthermore, missing the deadline outright strictly forfeits the landlord's legal right to retain any portion of the deposit for damages.
Exemptions Maine's security deposit statutes (specifically regarding holding limits and strict return deadlines) do not universally apply to an owner-occupied building that contains five or fewer apartments.
Back to Maine Landlord-Tenant Laws Overview.
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