Maine Standard Residential Lease Agreement

1. Bedbug Disclosure – If the property or an adjacent property is being treated for bedbugs, prospective tenants must be made aware.^[1]

2. Electricity in Common Areas – The tenant has a right to know that they cannot be billed for electricity in common areas unless they agree to be for some kind of compensation specified in writing.^[2]

3. Energy Efficiency Disclosure – A form disclosing the property’s energy usage and energy efficiency levels must be given to a new tenant.^[3]

4. Lead-Based Paint Disclosure & EPA Pamphlet – If the property was built before 1978, the landlord must disclose to the tenant that the walls could contain lead-based paint.^[4]

5. Radon Disclosure Form – Tenants must be made aware of the results of 10-yearly radon inspections.^[5]

6. Rental Housing Rights Disclosure Form (City of Portland ONLY) – Disclosures about tenants’ rights must be provided to new tenants of properties located in Portland.

7. Security Deposit Location – Landlords who collect a security deposit must disclose to tenants the name of the bank and account where the funds are being held.^[6]

8. Smoking Policy – Details of the property’s smoking policy must be provided in writing to tenants.^[7]

Maximum Amount – Two months’ rent.^[8]

Returning – If a lease agreement is for a fixed term, the landlord must return a security deposit within 30 days of the tenant moving out. If the agreement is month-to-month, the landlord has 21 days to return any unused portion of the deposit.^[9]

Grace Period – Fifteen days.^[10]

Maximum Late Fee – A landlord may not charge more than 4% of the monthly rent as a penalty for late rent.^[11]

NSF Fee – A landlord can charge 12% of the rent amount as a penalty for a bounced check.^[12]