Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, ch. 710-A § 6033
Return of the security deposit
Operative Text
1. Normal wear and tear. A security deposit or any portion of a security deposit shall not be retained for the purpose of paying for normal wear and tear. 2. Return; time; retention. 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. Reasons for which a landlord may retain the security deposit or a portion of the security deposit include, but are not limited to, covering the costs of storing and disposing of unclaimed property, nonpayment of rent and nonpayment of utility charges that the tenant was required to pay directly to the landlord. The landlord is deemed to have complied with this section by mailing the statement and any payment required to the last known address of the tenant. 3. Penalty. If a landlord fails to provide a written statement or to return the security deposit within the time specified in subsection 2 , the landlord shall forfeit his right to withhold any portion of the security deposit.
Maine law under 14 M.R.S. §§ 6031–6033 governs how and when security deposits must be returned at the end of a tenancy. A landlord may not keep any portion of a deposit to cover normal wear and tear, but may retain amounts for documented reasons such as unpaid rent, unpaid utility charges owed to the landlord, or costs related to unclaimed property. If the landlord retains any portion, a written itemized statement accompanied by the remaining balance must be sent within 30 days (for written leases, or the shorter period stated in the agreement) or 21 days (for tenancies at will) after the tenancy ends or the premises are surrendered, whichever is later.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to 14 M.R.S. §§ 6031–6033 generally document the condition of a unit at move-in and move-out to distinguish normal wear and tear—which cannot be charged against a deposit—from actual damage or other allowable deductions. Compliant landlords send a written itemized statement of any retained amounts, along with a check for the balance, within the applicable deadline (30 days maximum for written leases, 21 days for tenancies at will), mailed to the tenant's last known address. Keeping clear records of unpaid rent, utility charges owed directly to the landlord, and any unclaimed-property disposal costs supports a defensible itemization if the retention is later questioned.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 14 M.R.S. §§ 6031–6033, tenants have the right to receive their full security deposit back—or a written itemized explanation of any deductions plus the remaining balance—within the timeframes set by law. Critically, a landlord who misses the applicable deadline forfeits the right to withhold any portion of the deposit, which tenants may be able to raise as a defense or basis for a claim in small claims court. Tenants who believe their deposit was improperly withheld or that the itemization was untimely may consider consulting a tenant-rights organization or reviewing Maine's small claims process to understand available options.
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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