Maine landlord repair laws
What your landlord is required to fix, how long they have once you put it in writing, and what Mainelaw lets you do if they don't.
The deadline
14 days after written notice
Under 14 M.R.S. § 6026(2) this notice states my intention to correct the condition at your expense. You have 14 days after being notified in writing by certified mail, return receipt requested, to make the repair — or as promptly as conditions require in case of emergency — after which I may cause the work to be done and deduct its cost after submitting an itemized statement to you.
14 M.R.S. § 6021 · 14 M.R.S. §§ 6021(3), 6026
What your landlord must maintain
Under 14 M.R.S. § 6021, a landlord must deliver and maintain a dwelling unit that is fit for human habitation, and where heat is furnished by the landlord, supply heat capable of reaching at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
Conditions the statute covers
- ✓No working heat
- ✓No running water
- ✓No hot water
- ✓Electrical system not working or unsafe
- ✓Plumbing not in working order
- ✓Sewage backup or unsanitary conditions
- ✓Air conditioning not working (where supplied)
- ✓Supplied appliances not working — stove, refrigerator
- ✓Unsafe floors, stairs, railings, ceiling, or roof
- ✓Roof, window, or plumbing leak causing damage
- ✓Mold growth
- ✓Rodent or insect infestation
- ✓Common areas unsafe or unsanitary
- ✓No garbage receptacles or removal
- ✓Broken exterior door, window, or lock
- ✓Building or housing code violation
What you can do about it
Once written notice has been given and the statutory period has passed, you may repair the condition and deduct the cost from rent under § 6026, and seek an injunction ordering repairs, a determination of the fair value of use and occupancy, and a rent rebate under § 6021(4).
Repair-and-deduct limit: under § 6026(2) the cost must be less than $500 or an amount equal to one-half the monthly rent, whichever is greater. (Shown for a $1,500 monthly rent where the limit depends on rent.)
Retaliation is illegal
14 M.R.S. § 6001(3) creates a rebuttable presumption of retaliation where a tenant made a written request for repairs within the six months before an action, and no writ of possession may issue unless that presumption is rebutted.
Limits and exceptions
The § 6026 repair-and-deduct remedy does not apply to properties with five or fewer units where the landlord occupies one of them; the § 6021 warranty itself has no such exclusion. Under § 6026(4) a tenant may not seek reimbursement for their own labor, and installation or servicing of electrical, oil burner or plumbing equipment must be performed by a professional licensed under Title 32. A § 6021 claim additionally requires that the tenant was current in rent when written notice was given and did not cause the condition. Under § 6021(6-A) a separate written agreement may set the heat minimum as low as 62°F, and under § 6026(10) the deduction limit rises to two months' rent while a foreclosure action is pending.
Put it in writing — the way the statute expects
We'll write your notice citing 14 M.R.S. § 6021, the deadline it gives your landlord, and what happens if they miss it. Free to generate and download. If you want it sent USPS Certified Mail with tracking, we do that too.
Write my Maine repair noticeCommon questions
- How long does a landlord have to make repairs in Maine?
- Under 14 M.R.S. § 6026(2) this notice states my intention to correct the condition at your expense. You have 14 days after being notified in writing by certified mail, return receipt requested, to make the repair — or as promptly as conditions require in case of emergency — after which I may cause the work to be done and deduct its cost after submitting an itemized statement to you. That clock starts when your landlord receives written notice — which is why how you send it matters.
- Can I withhold rent or repair it myself in Maine?
- Maine allows repair-and-deduct within limits: under § 6026(2) the cost must be less than $500 or an amount equal to one-half the monthly rent, whichever is greater. You must give written notice first, and the statutory waiting period must pass before you act.
- Can my landlord retaliate if I ask for repairs in Maine?
- 14 M.R.S. § 6001(3) creates a rebuttable presumption of retaliation where a tenant made a written request for repairs within the six months before an action, and no writ of possession may issue unless that presumption is rebutted.
- Do I have to put a repair request in writing in Maine?
- Yes — and it is the single most important step. Under 14 M.R.S. §§ 6021(3), 6026, the landlord's obligations and your remedies run from written notice. A text message or a phone call generally leaves you arguing about whether and when your landlord was told.
Moving out of this Maine rental?
Maine gives your landlord 30 days to return your security deposit under 14 M.R.S. § 6033. See the deposit rules →
Verified against Maine's published statute text on August 11, 2026 — read the statute yourself. General information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm.