Should my landlord give me a receipt when I pay my rent?
If you pay any of your rent in cash, the landlord must give you a receipt
at the same time. The receipt must include:
- the date
- the amount paid
- your name
- what the payment was for
- the landlord's signature
If you live in a building with 5 apartments or fewer and your landlord
lives there, he does not have to give rent receipts. If your landlord won't
give a receipt, try to pay with a check or money order and keep your own
records.
Can my landlord charge interest on a late payment of rent?
Yes. If you do not pay your rent within 15 days after it is due, your landlord
can charge a late fee. The fee cannot be more than 4% of one month's rent.
For example, if your rent is $800 per month, the late charge cannot be more
than $32. To charge a late fee, your landlord must tell you about it in writing
when you agree to rent from him.
Does my landlord have to accept general assistance (GA) rent vouchers?
Yes. Your landlord cannot refuse your rent just because the town is paying
some or all of it.
What if the landlord refuses to take GA vouchers?
First, find out why your landlord will not take GA vouchers. Maybe
the problem is that the town only pays by the week but your landlord
charges by the month. Ask the town to pay by the month or to agree with
your landlord on a payment schedule. If the town will not help, call the
General Assistance Unit at the Department of Health and Human Services in Augusta.
Their toll free number is 1-800-442-6003. If that does not help,
call your local Pine Tree Legal office.
Your landlord cannot refuse to take GA simply because he
doesn't like city vouchers. You can file a discrimination complaint with
the Maine Human Rights
Commission in Augusta: 624-6050.
Pine Tree Legal can help you
to file a complaint.
office.
Yes, if you are a tenant at will. Your landlord must give you a 45 day
written notice of any rent increase. If your landlord does not do this,
you have two choices.
- You can refuse to pay the increase, or
- You can pay under protest and later sue your landlord for the amount
you were overcharged. You can ask the court to order the landlord to pay
for your court costs and lawyer's fees. Or you can sue in
Small Claims
Court without a lawyer.
If you choose not to pay the increase, your landlord may try to evict you.
More on evictions.
If you have a lease, the landlord probably cannot increase the rent
during the lease term. Read your lease to find out if it says something
different.
If you live in subsidized housing, your rent is based on your income.
So your rent can be raised or lowered if your income changes. Also, there are special “earnings disregard” rules if you start working. Read your lease.
Then contact Pine Tree Legal
if you think you are paying too much.
Can my landlord increase my rent if there are serious problems with
my apartment?
No. If there are serious problems which are unsafe or could make you sick,
the landlord must fix the problems before she can charge more rent. For
example, your landlord cannot increase your rent if there is no heat in
the winter. If you or your guests have caused the problems, then your landlord
can still raise your rent.
Rent
Increases
