Moving in Costs
14 M.R.S. § 6022-A — the first month, the deposit and disclosed fees, and no more up front
To start a lease or tenancy at will, a landlord, agent or broker may not require more up front than the first full month's rent, a security deposit within the legal cap, and any properly disclosed mandatory recurring fee.
Who handles this in Maine: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Maine directory.
- No fee may be charged just to submit an application or to have it reviewed or approved.
- An applicant may be charged the actual cost of only one of a background check, a credit check or another screening process, and no more than one such fee in any 12-month period.
- The applicant gets a complete copy of whatever the check turns up, and no fee may be charged unless the landlord said so first.
Sources for this section (2)
- 14 M.R.S. § 6022-A — Limit on initial amount paid by tenant
- 14 M.R.S. § 6030-H — Fees charged to applicants for lease of residential dwelling unit
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maine attorney.