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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.

Protection from Abuse & Harassment Forms

The Court has recently updated many family law forms! We are in the process of updating our forms, to match. In the meantime, please check with the Maine Court's website for the most up-to-date 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: 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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Maine Sexual Assault Resources: Consent and Maine Law

What is consent? Consent is when you give permission for something to happen. Consent is an important part of sex. A person’s consent to a sexual activity should be:
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Sexual Assault in the LGBTQ+ Community in Maine: You can get help

Sexual assault affects many members of the LGBTQ+ community. Many Maine organizations work to serve the needs of LGBTQ+ survivors.