Maine Rent Increase Notice
In Maine a landlord must give at least 45 days written notice to raise the rent on a tenancy at will, and at least 75 days if the increase is 10% or more (14 M.R.S. Section 6015). Attorney review available.
Introduction
Maine ties the length of a rent increase notice to the size of the increase itself. Under 14 M.R.S. Section 6015, a dedicated rent-increase statute titled for the purpose, a landlord may raise the rent on a residential tenancy at will only after at least 45 days written notice, and that jumps to at least 75 days when the increase is 10 percent or more. The 10 percent trigger counts a single increase or the cumulative effect of increases within a 12-month period, so several smaller raises that add up to 10 percent pull in the longer window. A rent increase notice names the new monthly rent and the date it begins, and the higher rent applies only once the notice period runs. The statute reaches rent and mandatory recurring fees alike. Maine backs the rule with teeth: a written or oral waiver of the notice requirement is void, and a landlord who violates it is liable for the return of sums unlawfully obtained, with interest, and reasonable attorney's fees and costs. On the amount, Maine sets no statewide percentage cap, though 14 M.R.S. Section 6016 bars any increase while the unit violates the warranty of habitability, and some municipalities, including Portland, have adopted local rent-control ordinances that cap annual increases and add their own notice rules. Rent under a fixed-term lease cannot rise mid-term unless the lease allows it, because Section 6015 governs a tenancy at will, not a lease still inside its fixed term. DocDraft builds your Maine rent increase notice from your facts, with attorney review available before you serve it.
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Key Things to Know
- 1
A rent increase notice is a written notice a Maine landlord gives a tenant to raise the rent or mandatory recurring fees on a residential tenancy at will, stating the new amount and the date it takes effect.
- 2
Maine's rent-increase statute (14 M.R.S. Section 6015) requires at least 45 days written notice to raise the rent on a tenancy at will.
- 3
The notice grows to at least 75 days when the increase is 10 percent or more, counting a single increase or the cumulative effect of increases within a 12-month period.
- 4
A written or oral waiver of the notice requirement is void; a landlord who violates it is liable for the return of sums unlawfully obtained, with interest, and reasonable attorney's fees and costs (14 M.R.S. Section 6015).
- 5
Maine sets no statewide percentage cap, but 14 M.R.S. Section 6016 bars any increase while the unit violates the warranty of habitability.
- 6
Some municipalities, including Portland, have adopted local rent-control ordinances that cap annual increases and add their own notice rules; check the ordinance where the unit sits.
- 7
Rent under a fixed-term lease cannot rise mid-term unless the lease allows it; Section 6015 governs a tenancy at will, and a notice shorter than the required period does not take effect until a proper period runs.
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a Rent Increase Notice in Maine, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Rent Increase Notice guide walks through them.
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Maine Requirements for Rent Increase Notice
Tiered Notice: 45 Days, or 75 for 10%+
Maine's rent-increase statute (14 M.R.S. Section 6015) requires at least 45 days written notice to raise the rent on a tenancy at will, and at least 75 days when the increase is 10 percent or more. The effective date must leave the tenant at least the notice this increase requires.
The 10% Trigger Counts Cumulatively
The 75-day notice applies when the increase is 10 percent or more, counting a single increase or the cumulative effect of increases within a 12-month period (14 M.R.S. Section 6015). Track the running total, because several smaller raises that reach 10 percent within a year pull in the longer window.
Waiver of Notice Is Void
A written or oral waiver of the rent-increase notice requirement is against public policy and void (14 M.R.S. Section 6015). A landlord who raises rent without the required notice is liable for the return of sums unlawfully obtained, with interest, and reasonable attorney's fees and costs.
No Statewide Cap, but Habitability Limit
Maine sets no statewide percentage cap. A landlord may choose the new amount once proper notice is given, but 14 M.R.S. Section 6016 bars any increase while the unit violates the warranty of habitability.
Local Rent-Control Ordinances
Some Maine municipalities, including Portland, have adopted local rent-control ordinances that cap annual increases and add their own notice rules. A landlord should check the ordinance where the unit sits before setting the amount or the effective date.
Covers Rent and Recurring Fees
14 M.R.S. Section 6015 reaches rent and mandatory recurring fees alike, so the notice period applies to an increase in either. The statute governs a residential tenancy at will.
No Mid-Term Increase on a Fixed Lease
Rent set by a fixed-term lease cannot rise during the term unless the lease allows it. Section 6015 governs a tenancy at will, not a lease still inside its fixed term, so a rent increase reaches a tenancy at will or takes effect at renewal.
What the Notice Must State
The notice should name the landlord and tenant, give the rental address, list the current and new rent or fees, and state an effective date that leaves at least the 45 days, or 75 days for a 10 percent or more increase, that 14 M.R.S. Section 6015 requires. A clear date and delivery record show the notice met the Maine rule.