A Maine 7 Day Notice to Quit is a legal eviction letter served to the tenant for nonpayment of rent if the amount due is not paid within the 15 day grace period. The tenant shall pay the rent balance due or vacate the premises within seven (7) calendar days.
When to Use an Maine 7 Day Notice to Quit
Use a 7 Day Notice to Quit to begin the eviction process in Maine if the tenant is late on rent and the balance due is not paid within the 15 day grace period, either in part or in full.
If the above is not true, use one of the below forms to evict a tenant:
- 7 Day Notice to Vacate – If the tenant committed an incurable breach, such as permitting or committing a nuisance, substantial property damage, perpetrating or threatening violence or any other unlawful activity.
- 7 Day Notice to Comply or Vacate – If the tenant committed a health/safety violation by failing to maintain the premises in clean and sanitary condition, violated health/safety rules with too many occupants residing at the premises or violated any other terms of the lease.
- 30 Day Notice to Vacate – If the tenant or the landlord is ending a periodic or fixed term rental agreement. This letter may also be used for tenants with no written lease or for tenants with an expired lease.
How to Write an Maine 7 Day Notice to Quit
The 7 Day Notice to Quit form shall be completed as follows:
- Write all adult tenants’ names (do not include minors);
- Fill in the complete address of the rental premises;
- Enter the amount of rent due and the date it became due;
- Include the total amount to be paid;
- The date the total amount is due or the date the tenant must vacate the premises;
- Include the date the notice is served;
- Landlord prints name and signs notice;
- Landlord includes address and phone number.
How to Serve an Maine 7 Day Notice to Quit
A landlord shall make three (3) good faith efforts to serve the tenant in person. If service cannot be made in person, the landlord may post the notice at the premises, such as on the entry door AND mail the notice to the tenant by first class mail with a certificate of mailing.
When sending the notice by first class mail, add three (3) calendar days to the notice period to account for variability in post office delivery times.
Sources
- 1 14 ME Rev Stat § 6028
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A payment of rent is late if it is not made within 15 days from the time the payment is due.
Source Link - 2 14 ME Rev Stat § 6002
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In the event that the landlord or the landlord’s agent has made at least 3 good faith efforts to personally serve the tenant in-hand, that service may be accomplished by both mailing the notice by first class mail to the tenant’s last known address and by leaving the notice at the tenant’s last and usual place of abode.
Source Link - 3 Maine Court Rules of Civil Procedure - Rule 6
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Additional Time After Service by Mail. Whenever a party has the right or is required to do some act or take some proceedings within a prescribed period after the service of a notice or other paper upon the party and the notice or paper is served upon the party by mail, 3 days shall be added to the prescribed period.
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