How Long Does a Landlord Have to Return a Deposit in Maine?
In Maine, a landlord has 30 calendar days (written rental agreement; statutory outer limit is 30 days; lease may set a shorter period) or 21 calendar days (tenancy at will (no written rental agreement)) to return a security deposit. The deadline is measured from this trigger: 30 calendar days (written rental agreement; statutory outer limit is 30 days; lease may set a shorter period): after end of tenancy under written rental agreement (or shorter time stated in the agreement); 21 calendar days (tenancy at will (no written rental agreement)): after termination of the tenancy or surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs later. The verified penalty formula is failure to provide written statement or return deposit within the statutory time: landlord forfeits right to withhold any portion; if landlord still fails to return entire deposit within 7 days after tenant's pre-suit notice of intent to sue, wrongful retention is presumed and landlord is liable for double the portion wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs; landlord bears burden to prove withholding was not wrongful under Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 6031-6039 (esp. §§ 6032-6034).
Key facts
| Deadline | 30 calendar days (written rental agreement; statutory outer limit is 30 days; lease may set a shorter period); trigger: after end of tenancy under written rental agreement (or shorter time stated in the agreement) |
|---|---|
| Deadline (branch 2) | 21 calendar days (tenancy at will (no written rental agreement)); trigger: after termination of the tenancy or surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs later |
| Penalty formula | failure to provide written statement or return deposit within the statutory time: landlord forfeits right to withhold any portion; if landlord still fails to return entire deposit within 7 days after tenant's pre-suit notice of intent to sue, wrongful retention is presumed and landlord is liable for double the portion wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs; landlord bears burden to prove withholding was not wrongful |
| Bad faith required | No |
| Statute citation | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 6031-6039 (esp. §§ 6032-6034) |
Statute says
A landlord shall return to a tenant the full security deposit deposited with the landlord by the tenant or, if there is actual cause for retaining the security deposit or any portion of it, the landlord shall provide the tenant with a written statement itemizing the reasons for the retention of the security deposit or any portion of it: A. In the case of a written rental agreement, within the time, not to exceed 30 days, stated in the agreement; and B. In the case of a tenancy at will, within 21 days after the termination of the tenancy or the surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs later. The written statement itemizing the reasons for the retention of any portion of the security deposit must be accompanied by a full payment of the difference between the security deposit and the amount retained.
What this means
Read the deadline, trigger, and penalty together. Match the date you can prove to the trigger above, then compare the landlord's response to the rule in Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 6031-6039 (esp. §§ 6032-6034).
FAQ
Does Portland have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Maine law and local rules.
What happens if a landlord misses the Maine deposit deadline?
The verified penalty formula is failure to provide written statement or return deposit within the statutory time: landlord forfeits right to withhold any portion; if landlord still fails to return entire deposit within 7 days after tenant's pre-suit notice of intent to sue, wrongful retention is presumed and landlord is liable for double the portion wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs; landlord bears burden to prove withholding was not wrongful under Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 6031-6039 (esp. §§ 6032-6034). Keep the move-out date, forwarding address records, and any itemized statement before you act.
Does a demand letter change the legal deadline?
No. The deadline is still 30 calendar days (written rental agreement; statutory outer limit is 30 days; lease may set a shorter period) or 21 calendar days (tenancy at will (no written rental agreement)). The deadline trigger is 30 calendar days (written rental agreement; statutory outer limit is 30 days; lease may set a shorter period): after end of tenancy under written rental agreement (or shorter time stated in the agreement); 21 calendar days (tenancy at will (no written rental agreement)): after termination of the tenancy or surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs later. A letter documents the timeline and asks the landlord to resolve the deposit before the next step.
If the deadline passed
Send the letter that starts the clock and keeps the demand tied to the verified Maine deadline.
If the landlord stays silent, review landlord ignoring the deadline before choosing the next step.