| Rent Increase Facts | Answer |
| Reason Needed? | No |
| Maximum Amount | None |
| Required Notice | 30 or 45 Days |
Does Maine Have Rent Control Laws?
Maine does not have statewide rent control laws that limit the amount that landlords may ask for. However, state law allows local governments to establish rent control laws, like in Portland.
When Can a Landlord Raise Rent in Maine?
Landlords in Maine can raise the rent at any time, as long as they comply with the following:
- Give reasonable notice
- Wait until the end of the lease term (unless otherwise specified in the lease)
- Aren’t raising rent for discriminatory or retaliatory reasons
Maine state law requires that rent increases on mobile homes be applied uniformly to all tenants unless the rent increase is approved by the majority vote of a resident-owned cooperative.
When Can’t a Landlord Raise Rent in Maine?
Landlords in Maine may not raise the rent if:
- The increase is applied in a way that discriminates against one of the protected classes specified in the Fair Housing Act
- It is done in response to a protected tenant action, such as filing a complaint (i.e., landlord retaliation)
- It is during the middle of a lease’s fixed term (unless stated otherwise in the lease agreement)
- The increase is higher than what’s allowed under local rent control laws
- The rental unit violates the warranty of habitability (unless the condition was caused by the tenant)
In addition to the federal protections, Maine state law prohibits discrimination in housing that’s based on a tenant receiving government assistance of any kind.
How Often Can Rent Be Increased in Maine?
By state law, landlords in Maine can increase the rent as often as they choose as long as they provide sufficient notice each time. However, cities and towns may enact stricter rules. For example, landlords in Portland must wait 12 months between rent increases.
How Much Can a Landlord Raise Rent in Maine?
By state law, landlords in Maine can raise the rent by any amount and for any reason as long as they give proper notice, don’t do so during the fixed term of a lease, and aren’t doing so for certain discriminatory reasons. However, state law allows local governments to regulate rent increases.
In Portland, the law limits annual rent increases to a percentage of the rate of inflation in the Boston area. However, landlords can exceed the limit by applying to the Rent Board or carrying over their rent increase allowance from a previous year. Accessory units and owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer rental units are exempt from Portland’s rent control laws.
How Much Notice is Needed To Raise Rent in Maine?
In Maine, landlords cannot raise the rent during a lease term and must give 45 days of advance notice to increase the rent. Landlords of mobile home tenants must give 30 days of advance notice to increase the rent. Whenever rent increases in a total 12 month period have exceeded 10%, a landlord must give 75 days of advance notice.
However, local governments can enact different rules. For example, in Portland, landlords must give 90 days’ notice to increase the rent.
Sources
- 1 10 ME Rev Stat § 9097
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Any rule or change in rent that does not apply uniformly to all park tenants creates a rebuttable presumption that the rule or change in rent is unfair unless the rule or change in rent is made by majority vote of all the members in a resident-owned cooperative.
Source Link - 2 14 ME Rev Stat § 6106
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Rent charged for residential estates may not be increased if the dwelling unit is in violation of the warranty of habitability. Any violation caused by the tenant, his family, guests or invitees shall not bar a rent increase.
Source Link - 3 5 ME Rev Stat § 4581-A
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For any person furnishing rental premises…impose different terms of tenancy to any individual who is a recipient of federal, state or local public assistance, including medical assistance and housing subsidies, primarily because of the individual’s status as recipient.
Source Link - 4 Portland City Code § 6-234
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A Landlord may not increase the rent charged for a Covered Unit within twelve (12) months following a previous Rent increase.
Source Link - 5 Portland City Code § 6-231
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This Article shall apply to Rental Units in the City limits of Portland, exempting the following…Rental Units within a building containing only two (2), three (3) or four (4) dwelling units, one of which the property owner currently occupies as his or her principal residence…Accessory dwelling units…
Source Link - 6 14 ME Rev Stat § 6015
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Rent charged for residential estates may be increased by the lessor only after providing at least 45 days’ written notice to the tenant.
Source Link - 7 10 ME Rev Stat § 9093
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The park owner or operator must give at least 30 days’ written notice to all tenants before changing any rules or increasing any fees, charges or assessments.
Source Link - 8 Portland City Code § 6-223
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…a Landlord shall give ninety (90) days’ written notice of any rent increase to a Tenant.
Source Link - 9 Maine Rev. Stat. § 6015
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If rent charged for a residential estate is increased by the landlord by 10% or more, the landlord must provide at least 75 days’ written notice to the tenant. If the landlord increases rent more than once in a 12-month period, and the increases add up to a total increase of 10% or more, the landlord must provide at least 75 days’ written notice prior to any increase that brings the total increase in rent to 10% or more. A written or oral waiver of this requirement is against public policy and is void. Any person in violation of this subsection is liable for the return, with interest, of any sums unlawfully obtained from the tenant and reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.
Source Link
