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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.
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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: Mobile Home Parks

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 Renters" articles apply to you:
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Rights of Maine Renters: Paying Rent

Important Resources to Prevent Eviction Getting evicted? Worried you might be soon?
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Rights of Maine Renters: Landlord Coming Into Your Home

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 notice." This means at least 24 hours notice. If the landlord does give you “reasonable notice” you can’t refuse them entry to the unit. You don’t… More
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Rights of Maine Renters: Sale or Foreclosure of Building

Has the building or home you rent been sold or foreclosed on? You still have rights as a renter!
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Rights of Maine Renters: Subsidized Housing

What is "Subsidized Housing?" There are different kinds of subsidized housing. Some are public housing, and some aren't. If your rent goes by your income, your housing is “subsidized.”  This is true even if your house or apartment is owned by a person or company, and not the government.
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Rights of Maine Renters: Tips Before You Rent

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 to ask about any house, apartment, or mobile home you might rent.