Rental Housing
Featured Content March 2025
The state of Maine has a lot of older homes, and unfortunately that means we also have a lot of lead paint. This article covers what you and your family should know about lead: the risks, your rights…
Featured Content August 2024
Can my landlord turn off my utilities or change the locks on my door or kick me out without going to court? No. It is illegal for your landlord to throw you out by force. Your landlord must get a…
Featured Content July 2024
Is sexual harassment covered under the Maine Human Rights Act?
The Maine Human Rights Act bans harassment based on:
Featured Content July 2024
Sometimes landlords react to sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking by taking action against the victim. There are state and federal laws that can help if this happens to you.
Featured Content July 2024
Welcome to PTLA's Fair Housing Unit!
The Fair Housing Unit works to make sure state and federal laws protecting everyone’s right to housing free from illegal discrimination are enforced i
Featured Content July 2024
Introduction
Understanding the kind of purchase agreement you have when you are trying to buy land or a home is very important.
Featured Content June 2024
Decide what you want to do. If you do not want to stay, but you need more time to move, call your landlord or the landlord’s attorney to see if you can settle the case. Your landlord must take…
March 2025
Important Resources to Prevent Eviction
Getting evicted? Worried you might be soon?
February 2025
Important Resources to Prevent Eviction
Getting evicted? Worried you might be soon?
January 2025
Maine law gives tenants an "implied warranty of habitability." This means that your landlord must promise that your home is safe and fit to live in.
January 2025
Statewide Help
The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides assistance to low-income households for their energy bills.
December 2024
Who is protected by the mobile home park laws?
This section applies to you if you own your mobile home and rent a lot in a mobile home park. Also, these "Rights of Maine
December 2024
Are you about to rent a place in Maine? Brush up on your rights, and other things you should know before you rent with our Tips for Tenants in Maine! Here’s Pine Tree Legal’s checklist of questions…
November 2024
This article will walk you through the basics of security deposits in Maine, from what you should do before you move in, to what you can do if you don't get your deposit back when you move out. It…
November 2024
Here is a sample form you can use if you need to inform a landlord in writing of an unsafe or unfit rental housing condition.
November 2024
You can use this sample form to request the return of your security deposit in Maine. We strongly recommend that you
October 2024
Is the electric company trying to charge you for a previous resident’s utility debt? Sometimes when a previous resident owes money to a utility company, the company will contact the current resident…
August 2024
Xuquuqda Kiraystayaasha Maine: Ka Saarista (Somali)
Gogoldhig
Maqaalkani waxa uu ka jawaabayaa su'aalaha aadka laisu weydiyo ee kiraystayaasha Maine ay ka qabaan xuquuqdooda. Gobol kastaa wuxuu…
August 2024
Direitos dos Locatários de Maine: Despejo (Portuguese)
Introdução
Esse artigo responde algumas perguntas comuns que locatários no Maine têm sobre seus direitos. Cada estado possui diferentes leis…
August 2024
Ntomo ya ba locataire na Maine: Kobima na ndako (Lingala)
Ebandeli
Mokanda oyo ezali koyanola mituna mingi bafuti ndako na Maine bazali na yango na makambo matali ntomo na bango.
August 2024
Resous Enpòtan pou Evite Degèpisman
Yo mande w degèpi? Ou pè yo pral mande w sa byento?
August 2024
Introduction
Cet article répond à certaines questions courantes que se posent les locataires de l’état du Maine au sujet de leurs droits.
August 2024
حقوق المستأجرين في ولاية ماين: الإخلاء
(Arabic)
المقدمة
يجيب هذا المقال على بعض الأسئلة الشائعة للمستأجرين في ولاية ماين حول حقوقهم. لكل ولاية قوانين مختلفة لحماية المستأجرين - يغطي هذا المقال قانون…
August 2024
Effective March 1, 2014, Maine landlords are required to test rental units for radon gas.
August 2024
Maine tenants can use this form letter to request information from their landlord about where their security deposit is being held.
August 2024
A sample letter you can send to your landlord to notify them of bed bugs in your building. NOTE: This notice was drafted for use by Maine tenants. The laws may be different in o
August 2024
FEMA is a government agency which often provides assistance funds for people affected by severe weather. This article describes the process of applying for FEMA aid, and how to appeal a FEMA decision…
January 2024
Two laws in Maine protect people with disabilities. Both laws make it illegal for government agencies to discriminate against people with disabilities. Government agencies must also take steps to…
January 2024
Landlords may not discriminate against you because of your: race, color, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental impairment, religion, ancestry or national origin, getting welfare, being a single…
January 2024
Important Resources to Prevent Eviction
Getting evicted? Worried you might be soon?
September 2023
Who is covered by the “assistance animal” law?
The law applies to people with disabilities. Under this law, you have a disability if:
September 2023
Eviction Information Session
Every Tuesday at 9:00 am, Pine Tree hosts an information session about the eviction process in Maine. During the session, you can learn about:
September 2023
Has the building or home you rent been sold or foreclosed on? You still have rights as a renter!
September 2023
The agreement you make with your landlord affects what rights you will have. You may sign a written agreement called a lease. When you rent without a lease, you become a "tenant at will."
July 2023
What is "Subsidized Housing?"
There are different kinds of subsidized housing. Some are public housing, and some aren't.
February 2023
Maine State Housing Authority’s Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program provided money to help renters pay for rent, electric bills, or other expenses to help avoid homelessness. Right now, Maine…
December 2022
Important Resources to Prevent Eviction
Getting evicted? Worried you might be soon?
December 2022
Recursos importantes para prevenir el desalojo
¿Van a desalojarlo? ¿Le preocupa que pueda ser desalojado pronto?
December 2022
Wax Yaalaha Muhiimka ah ee looga Hortagayo Guri Ka Saarid
Miyaa lagu saarayaa? Ma ka werwersantahay in dhakhsi lagu saari rabo?
December 2022
Recursos Importantes para Evitar o Despejo
Sendo despejado? Preocupado que possa ser logo?
December 2022
Makambo ya motuya mpo ete babimisa yo na ndako te
Bazali kobimisa yo na ndako? Obangi ekomela yo kala te?
December 2022
Kreyòl
Lalwa nan eta Maine plizoumwen klè sou pwoblèm lokatè (li plis sou dwa lokatè nan Maine nan seksyon kote nou pale kesyon lojman lokatif), lwa yo pa fin twò klè sou dwa moun ki rete nan motèl,…
December 2022
Motels, hôtels et pensions (French)
Êtes-vous en train de vous faire expulser ? Craignez-vous de vous faire bientôt expulser ?
Pour en savoir plus sur vos droits en cas d’expulsion, assistez à une…
December 2022
Motels, Hotels, and Rooming Houses (Arabic)
قانون ولاية ماين واضح إلى حد ما بشأن العديد من قضايا المستأجرين (اقرأ المزيد عن حقوق المستأجرين في ماين في قسم الإسكان الإيجاري لدينا)، القوانين أقل وضوحا…
December 2022
Important Resources to Prevent Eviction
Getting evicted? Worried you might be soon?
October 2021
Can my landlord come into my house or apartment at any time? No. If your landlord wants to come into your home to make non-emergency repairs, or inspect the apartment, they must give you "reasonable…
September 2021
Is There Any Way I Can Get Back My Personal Property If It Is Being Held By My Landlord Or Someone Else?
Yes.
July 2021
How do I know if I can get a tax refund?
In Maine, when you stay in some kinds of short term rentals, like a hotel or motel room, you pay a state sales tax
May 2020
Para que le devuelvan el depósito usted deberá ser capaz de demostrar:
April 2020
Podcast - Federal and State Fair Housing laws prohibit discrimination against people who are from countries, other than the U.S, when selling, renting, financing, or other housing related…
July 2019
This information applies to you only if you live in HUD-subsidized public housing. Examples in Maine are: Cape Hart in Bangor, Kennedy Park in Portland, and Hillview in Lewiston.
July 2019
If you live in an apartment building, you may find out that you are paying for heat, lights, or other utilities for "common areas." This includes, for example, hallways, basements, or a common hot…
June 2019
It is not easy to balance a household budget when you have a low income. But you can supplement your income by claiming all of the benefits and supports you have the right to claim. Here is a…
May 2019
This podcast focuses on rental housing and Fair Housing laws. You can listen to the podcast above, or read the full text below.
May 2019
يركز هذا البودكاست (النقل الصوتي عبر الإنترنت) على
May 2019
Cod baahintan wuxuu ahmiyadda saarayaa sharciyada guryaha ijaarka iyo Guryaynata Caddaaladda.
May 2019
Ce podcast parle des logements de location et des lois relatives au logement équitable.
December 2018
What does "Fair Housing" mean?
In Maine we have both state and federal “fair housing” laws. They say that a landlord cannot refuse to rent to you, and a seller cannot treat you differently, because…
December 2018
If you have an eviction hearing soon, and will be going to court without a lawyer, you can practice representing yourself by playing RePresent: Renter! You'll learn how to prepare for court, what…
December 2018
هل صاحب العقار يجب ان يحافظ علي بيتي امن وبحاله لائقه ؟
نعم ,القانون في مين يعطي الى المستأجرين الضمان الضمني للسكن. هذا يعني ان صاحب العقار يجب ان يضمن ان بيتك امن و مناسب للاسكان فيه.
December 2018
The Fair Housing Newsletter is a publication of Pine Tree Legal Assistance, through the Fair Housing Initiative Program, Maine.
December 2018
Emergency Assistance (EA) is a program run by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). EA helps children and their families with some emergencies. The program does not cover all…
December 2018
Paid Fair Housing Testers help make sure that people are not denied housing because of their race, color, national origin or ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, family status (
December 2018
Tax credits for people with low incomes who own their own homes or pay rent.
December 2018
This podcast is about the right of people with disabilities to ask for exceptions to rental housing rules, so that they have equal opportunities to use and enjoy the housing. This right is protected…
December 2018
Listen to our podcast on harassment in rental housing! This podcast is about sexual harassment in rental housing and what to do if you believe that you have been harassed by your landlord, an…
December 2018
Listen to our podcast on religious discrimination in rental housing! This podcast talks about housing discrimination on the basis of religion.
For decades in the United States, the Fair Housing Act…
December 2018
If I live in an apartment building, can my landlord stop me from getting cable TV, a satellite dish or an antenna?
Generally, no.
December 2018
This year, you won’t have to worry about losing your benefits if you get a big tax refund. Starting in 2011, any tax refunds you get will not affect most public benefits, or how much you get!
December 2018
If you're more than $500 in debt on your electric bill, this program may be able to help you. You pay just your current monthly electric bill, each month and on time. For each month that you pay…
November 2018
Waa maxay macnaha "Cadaaladda Guryaha" (Fair Housing)?
Gobolka Maine waxa ka jira sharci gobol iyo sharci federal oo ku saabsan “cadaaladda Guryaha”.
October 2018
You can use this sample form to request return of your security deposit in Maine. We strongly recommend that you learn about the relevant