An Act to Create Rent Stabilization and Amend the Laws Regarding Termination of Tenancy and Rent Increase Limitations
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1574
Committee: Labor and Housing
Sponsors: SUPICA, BALDACCI, CRAFTS, GRAMLICH, MALON, MILLIKEN, PLUECKER, ROEDER, SACHS, SALISBURY
Amends: 14 MRSA §6002, 14 MRSA §6002-A, 14 MRSA §6016

Legislative Document
No. 1574
H.P. 1019
House of Representatives, April 11, 2023
An Act to Create Rent Stabilization and Amend the Laws Regarding 
Termination of Tenancy and Rent Increase Limitations
Reference to the Committee on Labor and Housing suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative SUPICA of Bangor.
Cosponsored by Senator BALDACCI of Penobscot and
Representatives: CRAFTS of Newcastle, GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach, MALON of 
Biddeford, MILLIKEN of Blue Hill, PLUECKER of Warren, ROEDER of Bangor, SACHS of 
Freeport, SALISBURY of Westbrook.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  14 MRSA §6002, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5.  Creation.  A lease agreement becomes a month-to-month tenancy at will if the lease 
agreement is not renewed or terminated upon its expiration, unless the landlord provides 
days' notice of termination of the lease and the tenant has at least 3 lease violations.
Sec. 2.  14 MRSA §6002-A is enacted to read:
§6002-A.  Termination of tenancy
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary and except as prohibited by the 
terms of a lease agreement, a landlord or tenant may terminate a tenancy in accordance 
with this section.
1. 30 days' notice. A landlord or tenant may terminate a tenancy with 30 days' written 
notice to the other party without a cause arising from the actions of the tenant if:
A.  The dwelling unit is located in a dwelling that is no larger than a 4-family dwelling 
and one of the units is occupied by the landlord;
B.  The landlord intends for the landlord or a member of the landlord's immediate 
family to occupy the dwelling unit as a primary residence and the landlord does not 
own a comparable unit within the same municipality that is available for occupancy at 
the time the tenant receives a notice to terminate the tenancy; or
C.  Notice is served upon the other party within 30 days of the annual anniversary date 
of the creation of a tenancy.
2. 90 days' notice.  Except as provided in subsection 3, a landlord may terminate a 
tenancy with 90 days' written notice to a tenant if the landlord pays the tenant an amount 
equal to one month's rent. 
3. Payment of one month's rent; exception.  A landlord that has an ownership interest 
in 4 or fewer dwelling units is not required to pay the tenant an amount equal to one month's 
rent in order to terminate a tenancy in accordance with subsection 2.
Sec. 3.  14 MRSA §6016, as amended by PL 1985, c. 293, §5, is repealed and the 
following enacted in its place:
§6016.  Rent increase limitations
This section governs limitations on rent increases.
1. Warranty of habitability.  Rent charged for residential estates may not be increased 
if the dwelling unit is in violation of the warranty of habitability. Any violation caused by 
the tenant, the tenant's family, guests or invitees may not bar a rent increase. A written or 
oral waiver of this requirement is against public policy and is void. A person in violation 
of this section is liable for the return of any sums unlawfully obtained from the lessee, with 
interest and reasonable attorney's fees and costs.
2. Annual limitation; maximum increase.  A landlord may not increase the rent on a 
dwelling unit more than once per year.  A rent increase under this subsection may not 
exceed 7% more than the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index as reported by 
the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.  The Maine State 
Housing Authority shall publish the maximum allowable rent increase percentage.
SUMMARY
This bill:
1. Identifies situations in which a landlord or a tenant may terminate a tenancy with 30 
days' written notice to the other party without a cause arising from the actions of the tenant;
2. Authorizes a landlord to terminate a tenancy with 90 days' written notice to a tenant 
if the landlord pays the tenant an amount equal to one month's rent unless the landlord has 
an ownership interest in 4 or fewer dwelling units;
3. Provides that a lease agreement becomes a month-to-month tenancy at will if the 
lease agreement is not renewed or terminated, with certain exceptions; and
4. Prohibits a landlord from increasing rent on a dwelling unit more than once per year 
and establishes a maximum allowable rent increase percentage.