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Maine Eviction Notice

If you own residential rental property in the state of Maine, you can use a Maine Eviction Notice to inform a tenant of future legal action if they are unable to adhere to the agreed-upon terms of the rental contract that they signed or do not leave the property as requested. As a result of making this notice, you will be able to enforce your terms, while granting your tenant(s) time to fix the issue at hand before a certain deadline. That said, in some instances, there isn't any solution, and going to court is unavoidable. Suited for all residential property types, our Eviction Notice for Maine can be used by property owners with tenants in Bangor, Lewiston, Portland, and in all other towns within the Pine Tree State.

Normally, the answer is yes. You may use a Maine Eviction Notice (specifically known as a 7-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit) to initiate the process. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several limitations and protections have been established for tenants who have been unable to pay rent. Despite the fact that the federal ban on eviction has been struck down by the Supreme Court, the state of Maine can maintain its own guidelines for evictions. Stay up to date with the current guidelines for Maine or ask a local lawyer, if you are still unsure.

If you intend to file an eviction lawsuit against a tenant, you should always deliver a Notice of Eviction. Here are some common circumstances in which you might need one:

• The tenant has fallen behind on rent payments
• The tenant violates the no-pets clause of your lease agreement
• The tenant brings on a subletter in violation of the rental terms
• The tenant has caused excessive damage
• The tenant creates a nuisance or disturbs the quiet enjoyment of their neighbors
• The tenant is using your property illicitly

In addition to these violations, a tenant generally can be evicted due to reasons unrelated to their conduct, such as when the landlord plans to move in. Keep in mind that the list presented above is not fully exhaustive and the lawfully accepted reasons for evicting tenants can change by city. If you are having any particular doubts or questions related to Maine eviction laws, connect with an attorney.

You can tap or click the button labeled "Make document" to take a closer look at our Maine Eviction Notice sample and preview the questions that you will need to answer to customize your eviction letter. In order to complete your ME Notice to Vacate right now, you typically will need to have the following information:

• The location and description of your property
• The full name of each tenant
• How much time the tenant will have to resolve the situation
• Which lease clauses are not being met
• How many past due rent payments should be made (when applicable)

In the event that the tenant isn't at fault, you are able to add more details since your decision may likely come as a surprise. Additional alterations are permitted, if needed. You'll need to confirm that the policies and terms that you mention are present in the fully executed rental contract.

Eviction laws continually evolve over time and the actual legal procedure can be somewhat complicated, especially for a first-timer. In certain instances, there might be different notice periods and other requirements based on what the reason is for the tenant's eviction and how long they have occupied the property. Consequently, it's highly recommended that every landlord reach out to an eviction attorney when writing a Notice of Eviction.

If you want to draft a ME Eviction Notice online for free with Rocket Lawyer, you can click on the button labeled "Make document" to begin. You will then answer a few questions about your situation to generate your Maine Eviction Notice. This solution is, in many cases, much less time-consuming than hiring your average lawyer.

The cost of working with your average lawyer to produce a Notice of Eviction might be anywhere from hundreds of dollars to thousands. Unlike many other sites you might come across, Rocket Lawyer offers more than an eviction form template. If you do proceed with a lawsuit, your Rocket Lawyer membership offers up to a 40% discount when you hire an attorney from our On Call network. If you wish to understand the full cost of eviction, you'll need to consider the court fees associated with filing the lawsuit, legal fees, the value of unrecovered rent payments, storage and cleaning fees, and ultimately, the money and time spent finding a replacement tenant.

The duration of the eviction process for Maine renters will usually depend on the type of notice, in addition to the volume of proceedings that are being held concurrently. Below, you'll find a basic overview of Maine notice periods:

• Past-due rent: 7-day notice
• Lease violations: 7-day notice
• No direct fault: 30-day notice

After your notice period, the actual eviction may still take up to 30 days. Please note that in particular kinds of housing, for instance where the rent is subsidized, the mandatory notice period may be even longer.

While it is doable to build a Notice to Vacate without support, the majority of landlords who go to court have an attorney present. Depending on whom you approach, some lawyers won't even agree to review your document if they didn't work on it. An easier approach would be through attorney services at Rocket Lawyer. By signing up for a Premium membership, you have the ability to request advice from an attorney with relevant experience or send other legal questions related to your ME Eviction Notice. We are here to support you.

After creating your Maine Eviction Notice using Rocket Lawyer, you will be able to view it on any device, anytime. You also may interact with the document by editing it, downloading it as a Word document or PDF file, printing it, and copying it. You must sign it before serving it on the tenant. You can choose from a few methods when serving the notice:

• Send it through certified mail with a return receipt (if unable to deliver in person)
• Use a professional process server
• Deliver it by hand

Remember, "do-it-yourself" evictions are illegal in Maine or any other state. Property owners shouldn't change locks, move personal belongings, turn off utilities and services, or in any way harass and threaten tenants in an effort to force them to move. Acting lawfully leading up to and throughout the eviction proceedings is critical to removing tenants successfully under an official court order.