Maine Lease Agreement with ezSign

Maine Residential Lease Agreement

If you Lease real estate in Maine, you need a Lease Agreement that is state-specific, meaning it complies with all state laws.

Our Maine Lease is guaranteed to comply with all state laws and EZ to create IN MINUTES. Here’s how:

1. Get user-friendly prompts to guide you through the process of creating and customizing your Lease entirely online.
2. These prompts include State Assist Tips, which point out important Maine laws.
3. All Maine-required language, disclosures, and addendums are AUTOMATICALLY added to your Lease Package.
4. You can select from over 25 additional documents, addenda, and disclosure to customize your Lease Package.
5. Review and sign your Lease online with our electronic signing tool, ezSign.

EZ as That!

Landlord-Tenant Laws

Our Maine Lease Agreement includes all state-required terms, language, and disclosures. Even so, we know that Pro Landlords need to be familiar with laws when managing their rental units.

Category	State Law
Ending and Renewing	Unless otherwise specified within the Lease, Landlords or Tenants must give 30 days’ advance notice before lease termination.
Security Deposit	A landlord shall not demand or receive a security deposit in excess of 2 months' rent.
Returned Payment Fee	For returned payments, the Landlord must give notice that the check has been dishonored. The notice must state to whom the check was payable, the amount, date, and number of the check, as well as the name of the bank on which the check is drawn. The notice must also contain a warning that failure to pay within 10 days will subject the Tenant to additional costs which include court and processing charges incurred by the Landlord, interest at the rate of 12% per year from the date of failed payment, and attorney's fees.
Late Fee	Payment of rent is late if it is not made within 15 days from the time the payment is due. A Landlord may not assess a fee for the late payment of rent that exceeds 4% of the amount due for 1 month. Please Note: It's important to change the default number in the field where it states - Tenant is charged a late fee after "5" (default number) days to "15" days.
Insurance Requirements	Landlords may require tenants to obtain rental insurance.
Notice to Enter	Landlords must give at least 24 hours’ notice before entering the Leased premises.
Landlord Requirements	Landlords may not Lease or offer to Lease a dwelling unit in a multi-unit residential building where the expense of furnishing electricity to the common areas or other areas not within the unit is the sole responsibility of the Tenant unless both parties have agreed in writing that the Tenant will pay for such costs in return for a stated reduction in rent or other specified fair consideration that approximates the actual cost of electricity to the common areas. "Common areas" include, but are not limited to, hallways, stairwells, basements, attics, storage areas, fuel furnaces or water heaters used in common with other tenants.

Contact your local housing or zoning office to be sure your rental property complies with city and county requirements for inspections, rent control, occupancy limits, property codes, and zoning. Many cities and counties require inspections and registrations and have specific maintenance regulations.

Required Disclosures

In addition to these required disclosures, Landlords can select from over 25 additional documents and forms to add to their Lease Package, for example, a Pet Addendum, Winter Weather Addendum, or Tenant Guest Policy.

FAQs

Does a Lease need to be notarized in Maine?

No, a Maine Rental Contract does not need to be notarized. As long as it’s signed by both parties, it’s considered legally binding and fully enforceable.

How long can a residential Lease be in Maine?

The standard Lease term in Maine is 1 year (12 months). Even so, longer and shorter periods are accepted as long as the term is clearly stated in the Lease Agreement.

To make things EZ for Landlords, we offer a Short-term Lease Agreement, Month-to-Month Lease Agreement, Vacation Rental Contract, and Long-Term Lease Agreements.

Does a Lease have to be signed to be legally binding?

Yes, both parties need to sign the Lease Agreement for it to be an enforceable legal contract. The Landlord, or lessor, and Tenant, or lessee, both need to sign the Lease Agreement for it to be binding.

Who needs a Lease Agreement in Maine?

Anyone who Leases real estate in Maine needs a Lease Agreement. This is true whether the Landlord is renting an apartment, duplex, condo, or single-family home. The Lease Agreement is what outlines all terms of the rental relationship and protects both parties if any issues arise.

Because of this, it’s important to have a strong Lease Agreement - as opposed to a generic or simple Lease form - to make sure you have the protection you need.

Do I need a state-specific Lease Agreement?

Yes, every Landlord needs a state-specific Lease Agreement. The Lease Agreement needs to comply with all Lease laws where the property is located. This means a basic Lease form or fillable Lease template can Leave Landlords exposed.

There are some state-specific Lease templates, like the one offered by the Maine Association of Realtors. While these blank Lease templates are better than a generic Lease template, they can’t be customized to your property. Landlords need a state-specific Lease Agreement that is customized to their rental unit.

Other Popular Forms

Need another form? We have over 400 more!

Maine State Specific Documents

• Maine 7-Day Demand for Rent: Landlords should use this Notice if Tenants are at least 7 days late with rent. It advises the Tenant that they have 7 days to either pay rent or vacate the property. It’s a necessary first step in the eviction process.
• Maine 7-Day Notice to Vacate: This Notice should be used when Tenants have violated the Lease Agreement and the Lease violation cannot be cured. It’s a necessary first step in the eviction process.
• Maine 30-Day Notice to Terminate Tenancy: This Notice should be used to terminate a tenancy at will.
• Maine Complaint for Forcible Entry & Detainer: After providing Tenants with proper notice, Landlords file this Complaint with their local court to start the eviction process.

Other State & Province Lease Agreements

Create Maine Lease Agreement

Create your Maine Lease Package now in just about 15 minutes!

• EZ to create and customize entirely online.
• Guaranteed to comply with Maine Lease laws.
• Includes access to electronic signing and electronic storage.

Create Maine Lease