Lease Agreement Template Maine

RESIDENTIAL LEASE AGREEMENT

Document Control: RAD-ME-2024.1 | Jurisdiction: State of Maine | Effective Date: [Effective Date]

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1. OFFICIAL NOTICE & COMPLIANCE DISCLAIMER

Legal Notice: This Residential Lease Agreement is structured to comply with Title 14 of the Maine Revised Statutes (M.R.S.A.), including security deposit limitations, eviction procedures, and tenant rights. Real estate laws are subject to legislative amendment and municipal ordinances (such as local rent stabilization or code enforcement rules). Both Landlord and Tenant acknowledge that they have been advised to seek independent legal counsel regarding the legal and tax implications of this contract prior to execution.

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2. PARTIES & PREMISES

This Residential Lease Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into as of [Date], by and between:

• Landlord: [Landlord's Full Legal Name / Corporate Entity], with a primary mailing address of [Landlord's Address] ("Landlord"), and
• Tenant(s): [Tenant 1 Full Legal Name] and [Tenant 2 Full Legal Name] ("Tenant").

Premises: Landlord hereby leases to Tenant, and Tenant hereby leases from Landlord, the real property located at [Street Address, Unit Number], Portland/Bangor/[City], Maine, [Zip Code] (the "Premises"), together with the following personal property and appliances: [List Appliances, e.g., Refrigerator, Range, Dishwasher, Washer, Dryer].

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3. TERM & POSSESSION

• 3.1 Term: The lease term shall commence on [Lease Start Date] (the "Commencement Date") and shall expire on [Lease End Date] at 11:59 PM (the "Termination Date"), unless renewed or terminated earlier in accordance with the provisions hereof.
• 3.2 Holdover: If Tenant remains in possession of the Premises after the expiration of this Agreement without Landlord's written consent, Tenant shall be deemed a tenant at sufferance, subject to a daily holdover rent equal to [150%] of the pro-rated daily base rent, plus all damages incurred by Landlord.

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4. RENT & FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS

• 4.1 Base Rent: Tenant agrees to pay to Landlord as base rent the sum of [Monthly Rent Amount in USD] per month, due and payable in advance on the first (1st) day of each calendar month.
• 4.2 Payment Mechanics: Rent shall be paid via [Electronic Portal / ACH / Certified Funds / Personal Check] directed to Landlord’s designated address or account: [Payment Destination Details].
• 4.3 Late Fees: In accordance with 14 M.R.S.A. § 151-A, if rent is not received by Landlord within fifteen (15) days of the due date, Landlord may assess a late fee not to exceed four percent (4%) of the monthly rent amount, or the maximum permitted by Maine law.
• 4.4 Returned Checks: A fee of [Amount, e.g., $35.00] shall be assessed for any bank-rejected or returned checks.

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5. SECURITY DEPOSIT

• 5.1 Amount: Upon execution of this Agreement, Tenant shall deposit with Landlord the sum of [Security Deposit Amount - Max 2 Months' Rent in ME] as a security deposit (the "Security Deposit").
• 5.2 Statutory Compliance (14 M.R.S.A. § 6033): Landlord shall hold the Security Deposit in a segregated [Interest-Bearing / Non-Interest-Bearing] account in a federally insured financial institution located in the State of Maine.
• 5.3 Return of Deposit: Within thirty (30) days of the termination of this tenancy and delivery of possession to Landlord, Landlord shall return the Security Deposit, minus any lawful deductions for unpaid rent, utility charges owed, or actual damages to the Premises beyond normal wear and tear, itemized in a written notice delivered to Tenant.

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6. UTILITIES & SERVICES

Tenant shall be directly responsible for arranging and paying for all utility services consumed on the Premises, except for the following, which shall be paid by Landlord: [List Landlord-paid utilities, e.g., Water, Sewer, Trash Removal, or state "None"].

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7. USE, OCCUPANCY & TENANT OBLIGATIONS

• 7.1 Permitted Use: The Premises shall be used and occupied solely as a private residential dwelling by Tenant and the following authorized minor occupants: [List Names/Ages of Minor Occupants, or "None"].
• 7.2 Subletting & Assignment: Tenant shall not assign this Agreement, nor sublet any portion of the Premises, nor grant any license to use the Premises without the prior written consent of Landlord.
• 7.3 Compliance with Law: Tenant shall comply with all federal, state, and municipal laws, ordinances, and building codes, including noise regulations and local nuisance ordinances.
• 7.4 Lead Paint Disclosure: For properties built prior to 1978, the federally mandated Lead-Based Paint Disclosure and EPA pamphlet are attached hereto and incorporated by reference.

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8. MAINTENANCE, REPAIRS & ACCESS

• 8.1 Tenant Maintenance: Tenant shall keep the Premises in a clean, sanitary, and safe condition, and shall immediately notify Landlord of any structural defects, water leaks, or mechanical failures.
• 8.2 Landlord Access (14 M.R.S.A. § 6025): Except in cases of emergency, Landlord shall provide Tenant at least twenty-four (24) hours' notice prior to entering the Premises for inspections, repairs, alterations, or showing the property to prospective buyers or tenants. Entry shall be at reasonable times.

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9. DEFAULT & REMEDIES

• 9.1 Default by Tenant: Tenant shall be in default under this Agreement if Tenant fails to pay rent when due, breaches any operational covenant within seven (7) days of written notice, or abandons the Premises.
• 9.2 Statutory Notice (14 M.R.S.A. § 6002): If rent is unpaid for seven (7) days past the due date, Landlord may issue a written seven (7) day notice to quit. For other material non-compliance, Landlord may issue a thirty (30) day notice to quit pursuant to Maine law.

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10. GOVERNING LAW & MISCELLANEOUS

• 10.1 Governing Law: This Agreement shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Maine.
• 10.2 Severability: If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
• 10.3 Entire Agreement: This document constitutes the entire agreement between Landlord and Tenant and supersedes all prior oral or written negotiations, representations, or agreements.

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11. EXECUTION & SIGNATURE BLOCK

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Residential Lease Agreement as of the Effective Date written above.

LANDLORD:

Signature: _________________________________________________
Printed Name: ______________________________________________
Title: _____________________________________________________
Date: ______________________________________________________

TENANT(S):

Signature: _________________________________________________
Printed Name: ______________________________________________
Date: ______________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________
Printed Name: ______________________________________________
Date: ______________________________________________________

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STEP-BY-STEP EXECUTION GUIDE

1. Verify Compliance: Ensure all fillable bracketed fields are completed accurately, and attach the mandatory Maine Lead-Based Paint Disclosure (if built prior to 1978) and the State of Maine Tenant-Landlord Information brochure.
2. Execute Payment: Collect the certified funds or electronic transfer for the first month's rent and Security Deposit prior to releasing physical keys or access codes.
3. Dual Execution: Ensure all named Landlords and Tenants physically sign and date the execution block above in duplicate.
4. Record Retention: Provide one fully executed original copy to the Tenant(s) and retain the primary executed original in the Landlord's permanent compliance file for a minimum of three (3) years post-tenancy.