Where the Deposit Is Kept
14 M.R.S. § 6038 — a separate account beyond the landlord's creditors, and $500 or a month's rent when it is not
A deposit may not be mixed with the landlord's own money. It is held in an account at a bank or other financial institution, beyond the reach of the landlord's creditors, a foreclosing lender or a bankruptcy trustee, and moves with the building to a new owner. On request, the landlord tells the tenant the institution and the account number.
Who handles this in Maine: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Maine directory.
When a court finds a violation, the tenant recovers actual damages, $500 or one month's rent, whichever is greatest, with costs, and may be awarded reasonable attorney's fees.
Rent or a deposit paid at least partly in cash gets a written receipt on the spot, with the date, the amount, who it is for, the period covered, whether it is rent or deposit, and the signature and printed name of the person taking it. A building of 5 or fewer units where the landlord lives is exempt.
Sources for this section (2)
- 14 M.R.S. § 6038 — Treatment of security deposit
- 14 M.R.S. § 6022 — Receipts for rent payments and security deposits
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maine attorney.