Landlord repairs in Maine

Every written or oral rental agreement includes a warranty that the home is fit for human habitation (§ 6021(2)). A landlord may not maintain or allow any condition that endangers or materially impairs the tenants' health or safety (§ 6026(1)). (14 M.R.S. §§ 6021(2), 6026(1))

Maine law names these:

• heat able to keep 68°F (measured 3 ft from exterior walls, 5 ft above the floor) at -20°F outside, where the lease makes the landlord responsible for heat
• heating operated so building systems do not freeze
• no leaking events or chronic moisture outside the tenant's control that cause mold or other biological growth
• bedbug inspection within 5 days of notice and pest-control treatment

To sue under the warranty, the tenant must have given written notice without unreasonable delay to the landlord or the person who usually collects rent (actual notice to the rent collector also counts), and must have been current on rent when notice was given (§ 6021(3)). For repair-and-deduct, written notice of intent to fix the condition at the landlord's expense, sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, starts the 14 days (§ 6026(2)). Bedbug reports may be written or oral (§ 6021-A). (14 M.R.S. §§ 6021(3), 6026(2))

The notice must be in writing. Write a Maine repair request letter.

For repair-and-deduct, the landlord has 14 days after written notice by certified mail, or as promptly as conditions require in an emergency (§ 6026(2)). For a warranty lawsuit, the landlord must take prompt, effective steps within a time reasonable under the circumstances (§ 6021(3)(D)). For bedbugs, the landlord must inspect within 5 days of notice and contact a pest control agent within 10 days of finding an infestation (§ 6021-A(2)).

Urgent problems: In an emergency the landlord must act as promptly as conditions require (§ 6026(2)).

Law: 14 M.R.S. §§ 6021(3), 6021-A(2), 6026(2)

Allowed with limits. For a condition that endangers or materially impairs health or safety and costs less than the greater of $500 or half the monthly rent to fix, the tenant gives written notice of intent to fix it at the landlord's expense. If the landlord does not comply within 14 days of certified-mail notice (or as promptly as needed in an emergency), the tenant may have the work done with professional care (licensed trades for electrical, oil burner and plumbing work), give the landlord an itemized statement, and deduct the actual reasonable cost from rent. Not allowed for tenant-caused damage, when the landlord is unreasonably denied access, or when extreme weather prevents repair; the tenant's own labor is not reimbursed. Does not apply in an owner-occupied building of 5 or fewer units. Buying heating fuel counts as a cost of compliance when the landlord fails the heat standard.

Waiting period after notice:

14 days

Limit:

the greater of $500 or half of one month's rent (up to 2 months' rent if a foreclosure is pending or entered)

Law:

14 M.R.S. § 6026

Not addressed by state law. No Maine statute lets a tenant withhold rent for repairs. Instead, the tenant can sue under § 6021 and the court can set the fair value of the home from the date the landlord got notice and order a rent rebate. Separately, if the landlord fails to pay a utility bill in the landlord's name, the tenant may pay it and deduct the amount from rent (§ 6024-A).

Law:

14 M.R.S. §§ 6021(4), 6024-A

Allowed with limits. If a written residential lease has no termination or notice-of-breach provision, the tenant may end it with 7 days' written notice when the landlord has substantially breached the lease (§ 6001(1-B)(B)). A court in a warranty case may also let the tenant vacate temporarily during repairs with no rent owed until the tenant moves back (§ 6021(4)(C)).

Law:

14 M.R.S. §§ 6001(1-B), 6021(4)(C)

Lawsuit in District or Superior Court for breach of the warranty of habitability: injunction ordering repairs, a court-set fair rental value with rebate of overpaid rent from the date of notice, temporary vacating with no rent during repairs, temporary restraining orders, and other orders; no consequential damages (§ 6021(4)). Waivers of the warranty are void except a written agreement accepting specified conditions for a stated, fair rent reduction (§ 6021(5)).

An eviction is presumed retaliatory if, within 6 months before it is filed, the tenant asserted rights under the habitability law, complained in good faith to a code enforcement body, or made a good-faith written repair request to the landlord. The presumption does not apply to evictions for nonpayment or other listed causes or lease violations unless the tenant used repair-and-deduct (§ 6026). No writ of possession issues unless the presumption is rebutted. (14 M.R.S. § 6001(3))

The Maine Attorney General says to report conditions to your local (municipal) code enforcement office, which can inspect and order landlords to correct health and safety violations.

• A landlord who agrees to provide heat may agree in a separate, signed, revocable writing to a lower minimum (not below 62°F) for a fair rent reduction; not allowed if anyone over 65 or under 5 lives there (§ 6021(6-A)).
• Mold law (PL 2025, c. 515): renting out a unit with a leaking event or chronic moisture or humidity outside the tenant's control that causes mold, bacteria or other biological growth breaches the warranty (§ 6021(6-B)).
• Bedbugs: landlord must inspect within 5 days of notice, call a pest control agent within 10 days of confirming, and may not rent a unit known or suspected to be infested; the tenant must cooperate with treatment (§ 6021-A). A landlord who violates the bedbug law owes a $250 penalty or actual damages, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney's fees, and an eviction filed within 6 months after the tenant asserted bedbug rights is presumed retaliatory (not for nonpayment or substantial damage) (§ 6021-A(4)(B), (D)).

• Maine repair request letter (free, runs in your browser)
• Breaking a lease in Maine: notice periods and early-termination rights
• Maine eviction notice rules: what a notice for unpaid rent requires

• 14 M.R.S. § 6021 Implied warranty and covenant of habitability Retrieved October 14, 2026.
• 14 M.R.S. § 6021-A Treatment of bedbug infestation Retrieved October 14, 2026.
• 14 M.R.S. § 6026 Dangerous conditions requiring minor repairs Retrieved October 14, 2026.
• 14 M.R.S. § 6001 Availability of remedy (retaliation presumption; tenant termination) Retrieved October 14, 2026.
• Maine Attorney General — Tenant Rights Retrieved October 14, 2026.

Laws change. This page was checked against the sources above on October 14, 2026. It is legal information, not legal advice; before withholding rent or ending a lease, contact your state's legal aid. See our methodology.