Maine Tenants
A professional demand letter citing Maine's security deposit statute (14 M.R.S. § 6033), the return deadline, and the double-damages penalty for wrongful retention. Ready in minutes.
Deadline
21 / 30 days
to return your deposit after move-out
Penalty
2× damages
for wrongful retention, plus fees
Statute
§ 6033
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 14
Under 14 M.R.S. § 6033, your landlord must return your deposit within 21 days if you held a tenancy at will, or within 30 days under a written lease, along with a written, itemized statement of any deductions.
If the landlord wrongfully retains your deposit, you may recover under § 6034:
So a $1,500 deposit wrongfully withheld can support a court judgment of $3,000 plus fees. Most landlords settle quickly once they realize you know the law.
Note: Before suing for double damages, Maine asks you to give the landlord 7 days’ notice of your intent — your demand letter serves that purpose. Deposits are capped at two months’ rent.
Scope exemption: These rules do not apply to tenancies in owner-occupied buildings with five or fewer units (§ 6037). Your letter reflects whichever rules apply to your building.
Every letter follows the structure courts expect — your facts, the statute, a specific demand, and a deadline. Here's the skeleton; the generator fills the brackets from your answers and computes Maine's deadlines under § 6033.
[Date]
[Your name]
[Your forwarding address]
[Landlord's name and address]
RE: Security Deposit — Formal Demand for Return of $[Amount]
I am the former tenant of [rental property address]. You accepted a security deposit of $[Amount], and my tenancy ended on [move-out date]. My forwarding address for return of the deposit is stated above, which I am providing to you in writing.
Under § 6033, you were required to [return the deposit or provide an itemized statement] within [the statutory period]. That period has passed, and you have done neither. [The specific consequence Maine law attaches, cited by section.]
I demand return of $[Amount] no later than [deadline]. If I do not receive it, I am prepared to pursue all remedies available under [statute], including filing suit in the appropriate court.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
It depends on the circumstances: 21 days tenancy at will (21 days after termination or surrender, whichever is later); 30 days written lease (within the lease-stated time, not to exceed 30 days). The deadline is 21 days for a tenancy at will, or up to 30 days under a written lease. Your letter applies the correct one for your tenancy.
Wrongful retention exposes the landlord to double the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney fees and court costs under § 6034(2). A tenant gives 7 days’ pre-suit notice; the landlord’s failure to return within 7 days creates a presumption of wrongful retention.
14 M.R.S. § 6033 and 14 M.R.S. § 6034. We verify these against the statute text itself; the date we last checked is shown on this page.
Sources & verification
The Maine rules on this page were verified against the statute text itself:
Last verified against primary sources on .
How we verify this →Laws change. If you spot something out of date, tell us at support@gettenantshield.com and we'll correct it.
Properly formatted, addressed to your landlord by name, citing the exact Maine statutes that apply to your situation.
14 M.R.S. § 6033, § 6034, and any others triggered by your circumstances — not generic legalese.
The letter computes the exact dollar amount you're entitled to demand based on your deposit and the deductions at issue.
Download instantly, print, sign, and send via USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt.
Most Maine landlords return the deposit within days of receiving a properly drafted demand letter.
Generate my letter — $39