Landlord kept your deposit in Maine? Find your next step.
No refund, only part of your money back, or charges you disagree with? Start with what you received, then build a response using your records and Maine law.
Analysis free · Full case package $29-$49, one time · mailing optional
The deadline check is optional. See what you get
What do you need help with?
Open the situation that fits. Each route gives you something to check, something to keep, and a next step.
I received nothingNo refund and no list of deductions.
Check the trigger, then the date. Written lease: within the lease's stated time, max 30 days; tenancy at will: within 21 days after termination or surrender and acceptance, whichever is later (§ 6033(2)).
Maine requires it: at least 7 days' written notice of intent to sue - if the deposit isn't returned within those 7 days, wrongful retention is presumed and the burden shifts to the landlord (§ 6034(2)).
Keep: your deposit payment, move-out or key-return record, forwarding-address notice and any earlier written request. These establish the timeline behind your demand.
Analyze my missing refund - free →I received part of my depositSome money came back. Find out what explains the difference.
Reconcile the refund. Compare the original deposit, what was returned and each deduction. Separate charges you accept from charges you dispute.
Check the amount they kept - free →Enter the refund and deductions in the case builder. You do not need a separate worksheet first.
The Maine accounting rule: Any retention requires a written statement itemizing the reasons, with payment of the balance (§ 6033(2)); no retention for normal wear and tear.
Keep: the refund record, deduction list and notice envelope or delivery record. If money is still unexplained, identify that gap in your written request.
I disagree with the deductionsYou have a charge list, whether or not a refund arrived.
Respond to the specific charges. Note each amount, why you dispute it, and which photo, message or record supports your position. Check the notice instructions above before choosing how and when to reply.
Check my deductions - free →The records rule in Maine: No statutory requirement for receipts or estimates - only the itemized written statement of reasons.
No move-in photos? Use an inventory checklist, inspection report, dated repair request, messages or witness accounts to explain the condition.
I already sent a demandThe landlord has not paid, or the dispute is still unresolved.
Allow the seven-day notice period before filing. Compare any written itemization with your lease and condition records rather than assuming every deduction is wrongful.
See the Maine court route →Keep: your sent demand, delivery record and any reply. Use the court guide to check where to file, which forms to use, and the filing and service costs.
Turn the dispute into a documented demand
- Free: understand your dispute
- Add your refund, charges and records. Get a charge-by-charge analysis of the deposit rules and potential remedies under 14 M.R.S. § 6033.
- Optional: your case documents, $29-$49
- Your demand letter, damages summary and evidence checklist, ready to review and send with your records. Mailing is optional and costs extra.
One charge, backed by a reason and records
Fictional Maine example. Assumes coverage under the cited law; not a customer outcome.
- The charge
- Repainting ordinary wall scuffs: $900
- Records to attach
- move-in photos and move-out photos
Open PDF ↗In the generated letter
Ordinary wear and tear - not deductible. Repainting after a tenancy is ordinary wear and tear unless the walls were damaged beyond normal use (large holes, unauthorized colors). Dated move-in and move-out photos help distinguish ordinary wear from tenant-caused damage.
Prefer to write it yourself? Use the free Maine letter template.
Before you call the refund late
Written lease: within the lease's stated time, max 30 days; tenancy at will: within 21 days after termination or surrender and acceptance, whichever is later (§ 6033(2)).
Check coverage: Maine's security deposit law does not apply if you rent in an owner-occupied building with 5 or fewer units (§ 6037(2)). If your landlord lives in your building and it has five units or fewer, the deadlines and penalties described here do not cover your tenancy.
14 M.R.S. §§ 6033, 6034 ↗Deposit statute reviewed August 2026. Review dates refer to the cited rules.
Check the return timeline
Optional date estimate. Read the start conditions above; a passed date alone does not establish a violation. Your date and deposit amount carry into the free analysis.
Already know the dates? Go straight to the refund and charges.
Continue to my free analysis →Questions before your next step
What should I do first if my landlord kept my deposit in Maine?
Check the statutory deadline. Written lease: within the lease's stated time, max 30 days; tenancy at will: within 21 days after termination or surrender and acceptance, whichever is later (§ 6033(2)). Save your move-out records, any refund and the itemized statement. Compare them with the deadline and deduction rules below.
Do I need a lawyer to get my deposit back in Maine?
You can write a demand yourself. If you consider a court claim, small claims court (limit: $10,000) is designed for self-represented tenants - filing fees run $70, mediation included.
What happens if my landlord doesn't return my security deposit in 21 or 30 days in Maine?
Missing the deadline forfeits the right to withhold any portion (§ 6033(3)); wrongful retention then exposes the landlord to double damages under § 6034.
What can I ask to recover in a Maine deposit dispute?
Double the portion wrongfully withheld plus attorney's fees and costs (§ 6034(2)). The tenant must first give at least 7 days' written notice of intent to sue - if the landlord doesn't return the full deposit within those 7 days, wrongful retention is presumed and the burden shifts to the landlord.
Read the full Maine deposit-law guide for the return, deduction and remedy rules.