When the Landlord Will Not Fix It
14 M.R.S. § 6021 — a unit fit to live in, and a complaint in court when it is not
In every rental agreement, written or spoken, the landlord warrants that the unit is fit for human habitation. When a condition makes it unfit, the tenant may file a complaint in the District Court or Superior Court.
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- The condition endangers or materially impairs the tenants' health or safety.
- The tenant, or someone under the tenant's control, did not cause it.
- Written notice went to the landlord, or the person who usually collects the rent, without unreasonable delay.
- The landlord unreasonably failed to take prompt, effective steps to fix it.
- The tenant was current on rent when the notice was given.
The court may order the repairs, set the fair value of the unit from the date the landlord had notice until the repair and declare any rebate owed, and let the tenant move out during repairs without owing rent for that time. It may not award consequential damages.
Sources for this section (1)
- 14 M.R.S. § 6021 — Implied warranty and covenant of habitability
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maine attorney.