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Legal Information: Maine

Housing Laws

Updated: 
November 28, 2023

What documents do I need to give my landlord to get out of my lease if I am a victim?

If you are the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking and wish to end your lease, you must provide specific notice and documents to your landlord. You must provide:

  1. written notice that you are terminating your lease. If your lease is for a period of time of less than one year, you must provide at least seven days’ notice of your move out date. If your lease is for a period of one year or more, you must provide your landlord with at least thirty days’ notice of your move out date;
  2. any of the following forms of documentation:
  • a statement signed by a Maine-based sexual assault counselor or victim witness advocate;
  • a statement signed by a health care provider, mental health care provider, or law enforcement officer that includes their license number, if applicable; 
  • a copy of a protection from abuse complaint, temporary order, or final order of protection;
  • a copy of a protection from harassment complaint, temporary order or final order of protection from harassment;
  • a copy of a police report taken in response to an incident of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or
  • a copy of a criminal complaint, indictment, or conviction for a domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking charge.1

1 ME ST T. 14 § 6001(D), (H)