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Rights of Maine Renters: Unsafe or Unfit Housing

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.
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Rights of Maine Renters: Types of Rental Agreements

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."
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Rights of Maine Renters: Heat and Utility Charges for Common Areas

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 water heater or furnace. It is illegal for your landlord to make you pay those costs alone. For example, the hall lights should not be hooked up to your… More
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Rights of Maine Renters: Cable TV, Dishes, and Antennas

If I live in an apartment building, can my landlord stop me from getting cable TV, a satellite dish or an antenna? Generally, no. Your landlord can only refuse to allow these installations if they have "good cause" to deny that particular company. "Good cause" could be:
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Rights of Maine Renters: Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking

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.

The Family Law and Victim Rights Unit

The Family Law and Victim Rights Unit at Pine Tree Legal Assistance provides statewide coverage for the civil legal needs of victim/survivors of sexual assault. In many areas of the state, the Family Law and Victim Rights Unit also provides civil legal services to victim/survivors of domestic violence.

Small Claims Forms

Important Notice: We encourage you to learn more about Small Claims Court in Maine before using these forms.
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How to Handle Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Overpayments

SSI benefits are the benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) that come on the 1st of the month. If SSA finds that you have gotten too much money in your SSI benefit, they will send you a Notice of Overpayment.
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Rights of Maine Renters: Paying Rent

Important Resources to Prevent Eviction Getting evicted? Worried you might be soon?