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7-Day Notice to Quit (14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)): Unless the lease states otherwise, if a tenant is at least 7 days late paying rent, a 7-day notice to quit gives them 7 days to pay, warning that if they don't pay what they owe, you will take them to court to evict.

To evict you with a 7-day notice, your landlord must have a reason and state that reason in writing. If you are a tenant at will (no lease), the reason must be one of these: You have seriously damaged the apartment and have not repaired the damage. You have been a "nuisance" to other tenants or neighbors.

In the letter, ask your landlord to fix the dangerous condition within 14 days, or sooner if it is an emergency. Tell them if they do not do the repair, you will have it fixed and deduct the cost from your rent. (We have a form letter you can use.

In a tenancy at will, the landlord, or their agent, must deliver the 7-day or 30-day notice to the tenant in person. The notice does not have to be served by a sheriff. Exception: The landlord, or their agent, must make 3 good faith efforts to hand deliver you the notice.

2. Required notice of termination. Unless the lease is terminated for cause, a lessor must give notice to a lessee of the intent to terminate the lease at least one year prior to the effective date of the termination.

When you rent without a lease, you become a "tenant at will." Maine law gives you certain rights we will tell you about here. For example, to evict you, your landlord must give you time after a written notice and must get a court order if you are still not out.