What Landlords Can Legally Charge a Tenant in Maine

Over the last decade, the price to rent throughout of the state of Maine has gone up.

According to WGME, nearly half of Maine people who rent are spending too much each month on just that, rent.

Rental prices spiked during the pandemic and for most towns and cities across the state, they've never come down.

Just as frustrating as the rent itself can be the fees associated with signing a lease.

Here are some things renters should know about what a landlord can and can't charge under Maine state laws.

Three Things Landlords in Maine Can Legally Charge

One of most expensive points of contention in Maine between landlords and prospective tenants is the security deposit.

Under Maine law, a landlord can charge a maximum of two months rent for a security deposit. Anything exceeding that would be illegal and considered a violation of tenants' rights.

Landlords can legally change fees for late rent payments as well. Under Maine law, those feeds cannot exceed 4% of any month's rent.

Lastly, landlords are allowed to charge additional fees for things like pets, parking or shared costs like internet. However, every additional fee must be clearly stated in the lease prior to a tenant signing it.

What Landlords in Maine Cannot Legally Charge Tenants For

During the application process, it is not prohibited under Maine law for a landlord to charge a prospective tenant an "application fee".

If the landlord requires a background check, they can charge a fee that covers the cost to run that background check but nothing beyond that.

Additionally, landlords are prohibited from charging tenants any "junk" fees. For instance, if there's a "convenience" fee on a certain type of rental payment, it must be clearly and fairly stated in the lease agreement otherwise it could be challenged under Maine law.