Maine security deposit law

Security Deposit Laws in Maine: What Your Landlord Can and Cannot Keep

Your landlord has 30 days under Maine law to return your security deposit, or you may be owed more than what they withheld. If they keep more than they're legally allowed, you can dispute it.

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Maine security deposit return timeline

Deadline to return

30 days

Statute

14 M.R.S. § 6033 (return; time; retention; penalty); 14 M.R.S. § 6034 (wrongful retention; damages)

TWO DEADLINES BY TENANCY TYPE, per § 6033(2). (A) WRITTEN RENTAL AGREEMENT: within the time stated in the agreement, NOT TO EXCEED 30 DAYS — a lease specifying less is binding at that shorter time. (B) TENANCY AT WILL: within 21 DAYS after termination of the tenancy or the surrender and acceptance of the premises, WHICHEVER OCCURS LATER. If there is actual cause to retain any portion, the landlord must provide a written statement itemizing the reasons, and that statement MUST be accompanied by full payment of the difference between the deposit and the amount retained. The landlord is deemed to have complied by mailing the statement and any payment to the tenant's last known address.

What can a landlord legally deduct in Maine?

Allowed

  • ✓Nonpayment of rent
  • ✓Nonpayment of utility charges the tenant was required to pay directly to the landlord
  • ✓Costs of storing and disposing of unclaimed property
  • ✓Other damages for which there is actual cause (the statute says reasons 'include, but are not limited to' the listed ones)

Not allowed

  • ✗Normal wear and tear — § 6033(1) states a deposit shall not be retained for the purpose of paying for normal wear and tear
  • ✗Any portion at all where the landlord missed the deadline — § 6033(3) forfeits the right to withhold

What if your landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully in Maine?

Under § 6033(3), a landlord who fails to provide the written statement or return the deposit within the § 6033(2) time FORFEITS the right to withhold any portion. Under § 6034(2), wrongful retention renders the landlord liable for DOUBLE (2x) the portion wrongfully withheld, together with reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. MANDATORY PRE-SUIT NOTICE, § 6034(1): the tenant shall give the landlord notice of intent to bring legal action NO LESS THAN 7 DAYS prior to commencing the action; if the landlord fails to return the entire deposit within that 7-day period, wrongful retention is PRESUMED. Under § 6034(3), the LANDLORD bears the burden of proving the withholding was not wrongful — a strong posture for the renter.

How TenantNex helps

  1. 1. Tell us your move-out date, deposit amount, and landlord's address — two minutes.
  2. 2. We generate a demand letter citing 14 M.R.S. § 6033 (return; time; retention; penalty); 14 M.R.S. § 6034 (wrongful retention; damages) and your exact deadline.
  3. 3. We mail it to your landlord via USPS Certified Mail with return receipt.
  4. 4. You track delivery on your case page, with day-7 and day-14 follow-up.

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Maine tenant rights resources

Every fact on this page is verified against Maine's official statutory text as of 2026-09-04. TenantNex prepares legal correspondence as a document preparation service, not as your attorney. For complex disputes, consult a licensed attorney in Maine.

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TenantNex is a document preparation and delivery service, not a law firm. We prepare and send correspondence using publicly available state statutes. We do not provide legal advice, legal representation, or guarantee any outcome. For complex legal matters, consult a licensed attorney in your state.