94-348 Me. Code R. ch. 8 § 8.09
INTERFERENCE, COERCION OR INTIMIDATION
Operative Text
A. It shall be unlawful to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of that person having aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or protected by this part. B. Conduct made unlawful under this section includes, but is not limited to, the following: (1) Coercing a person, either orally, in writing, or by other means, to deny or limit the benefits provided that person in connection with the sale or rental of a dwelling or in connection with a residential real estate-related transaction because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, familial status, or physical or mental disability. (2) Threatening, intimidating or interfering with persons in their enjoyment of a dwelling because of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, familial status, or physical or mental disability of such persons, or of visitors or associates of such persons. (3) Threatening an employee or agent with dismissal or an adverse employment action, or taking such adverse employment action, for any effort to assist a person seeking access to the sale or rental of a dwelling or seeking access to any residential real estate-related transaction, because of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, familial status, or physical or mental disability of that person or of any person associated with that person. (4) Intimidating or threatening any person because that person is engaging in activities designed to make other persons aware of, or encouraging such other persons to exercise, rights granted or protected by this part. (5) Retaliating against any person because that person has made a complaint, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in a proceeding under Subchapter IV of the Maine Human Rights Act.
Maine regulation 94-348 Code of Maine Rules ch. 8 § 8.09 prohibits anyone from coercing, intimidating, threatening, or interfering with a person who is exercising fair housing rights or who has helped others exercise those rights. The rule covers a broad range of conduct, including pressuring someone to give up housing benefits, disrupting a person's enjoyment of their home, retaliating against employees who assist protected individuals, and punishing anyone who files a complaint or participates in a fair housing proceeding. Protected characteristics under this provision include race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, familial status, and physical or mental disability.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 94-348 Code of Maine Rules ch. 8 § 8.09, compliant property owners and managers refrain from any conduct—oral, written, or otherwise—that pressures applicants or residents to waive or limit their fair housing rights based on protected characteristics. Operators also avoid taking adverse employment actions against staff members who assist individuals seeking access to housing, and they do not retaliate against anyone who files a complaint or participates in a fair housing proceeding. Maintaining clear, documented non-retaliation policies and training staff on the scope of prohibited conduct are practices commonly associated with compliance under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 94-348 Code of Maine Rules ch. 8 § 8.09 protects tenants and applicants from being threatened, coerced, or interfered with when they exercise fair housing rights or help others do so—including after filing a complaint or participating in a proceeding under Subchapter IV of the Maine Human Rights Act. If a tenant believes they have experienced retaliation, intimidation, or interference covered by this provision, they may consider filing a complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission, which administers the underlying statute. Tenant-rights organizations in Maine can also provide general information about how this provision applies and what documentation may be relevant to a complaint.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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