Landlord & Housing · free generator
Maine Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In Maine, that is not a judgment call: under Maine Revised Statutes title 14, section 6033 (return of security deposit), your former landlord generally has 21–30 days to return your deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions. This generator produces a demand letter that cites 14 M.R.S. § 6033 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where Maine hears claims up to $10,000 — is the next stop. You do not need perfect English or a lawyer for this; the statute does the arguing. Fill in the blanks below, send it by certified mail, and keep a copy — the letter that cites the actual law is the one that gets answered.
[Date]
[Your former landlord's name]
Re: Demand for return of security deposit — [Rental property address]
Dear [Your former landlord's name],
I am writing to formally demand the return of my security deposit of [Deposit amount] for the property at [Rental property address], which I have vacated and returned to your possession.
Under Maine Revised Statutes title 14, section 6033 (return of security deposit) (14 M.R.S. § 6033), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 21–30 days. A written statement itemizing the reasons for any retention must accompany the refund of the balance, and failure to provide it or return the money on time forfeits the landlord's right to withhold any portion. Deductions for normal wear and tear are not permitted.
As of the date of this letter, I have received neither my deposit nor a lawful accounting for it. Please send the full amount of [Deposit amount] to my forwarding address: [Forwarding address for payment].
If I do not receive payment or a lawful written response within 10 days, I will file a claim in small claims court, where Maine law allows claims up to $10,000, and I will pursue every remedy available under 14 M.R.S. § 6033, including any statutory damages for wrongful retention.
I would prefer to resolve this without litigation. Prompt payment will close the matter.
Sincerely,
[Your full name]
Know your rights
Security deposit law in Maine
- Return deadline
- 21–30 days
- Governing statute
- 14 M.R.S. § 6033
- When the clock starts
- For a tenancy at will, the deposit is due within 21 days after termination of the tenancy or surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs later; with a written lease, it is due within the time stated in the lease, which may not exceed 30 days.
- Itemized deductions
- A written statement itemizing the reasons for any retention must accompany the refund of the balance, and failure to provide it or return the money on time forfeits the landlord's right to withhold any portion.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- Wrongful retention makes the landlord liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney fees and court costs under 14 M.R.S. § 6034; if the landlord does not return the full deposit within 7 days of the tenant's written notice of intent to sue, wrongful retention is presumed and the landlord bears the burden of proving otherwise.
- Small claims limit
- $10,000 (District Court small claims, 14 M.R.S. § 7482; raised from $6,000 Jan 1, 2026)
Worth knowing: Maine caps deposits at two months' rent under 14 M.R.S. § 6032, and mobile-home-park tenancies follow their own rules with a three-month cap. There is no requirement that the landlord pay interest on the deposit, and normal wear and tear can never justify retention. The 7-day written demand is the tenant's best tool: it flips the burden of proof onto the landlord and sets up the double-damages claim. Maine's small-claims ceiling jumped from $6,000 to $10,000 for cases filed on or after January 1, 2026 (PL 2025, c. 261), so even a doubled two-month deposit on most rents now fits comfortably in small claims.
Last reviewed August 2026 · General information, not legal advice · Read the statute
Field notes
Three tips before you send
- Send it by certified mail with a return receipt — that dated record is the first exhibit a Maine small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- For a tenancy at will, the deposit is due within 21 days after termination of the tenancy or surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs later; with a written lease, it is due within the time stated in the lease, which may not exceed 30 days.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($10,000 (District Court small claims, 14 M.R.S. § 7482; raised from $6,000 Jan 1, 2026)) usually costs under $75, and most landlords pay between the summons and the hearing.
Other states
Deposit letters for every state
Straight answers
Questions people ask
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Maine?
For a tenancy at will, the deposit is due within 21 days after termination of the tenancy or surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs later; with a written lease, it is due within the time stated in the lease, which may not exceed 30 days. The governing statute is Maine Revised Statutes title 14, section 6033 (return of security deposit). A written statement itemizing the reasons for any retention must accompany the refund of the balance, and failure to provide it or return the money on time forfeits the landlord's right to withhold any portion.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in Maine?
Wrongful retention makes the landlord liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney fees and court costs under 14 M.R.S. § 6034; if the landlord does not return the full deposit within 7 days of the tenant's written notice of intent to sue, wrongful retention is presumed and the landlord bears the burden of proving otherwise. These cases are built for small claims court — the Maine limit is $10,000 (District Court small claims, 14 M.R.S. § 7482; raised from $6,000 Jan 1, 2026), filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else Maine renters should know about deposits?
Maine caps deposits at two months' rent under 14 M.R.S. § 6032, and mobile-home-park tenancies follow their own rules with a three-month cap. There is no requirement that the landlord pay interest on the deposit, and normal wear and tear can never justify retention. The 7-day written demand is the tenant's best tool: it flips the burden of proof onto the landlord and sets up the double-damages claim. Maine's small-claims ceiling jumped from $6,000 to $10,000 for cases filed on or after January 1, 2026 (PL 2025, c. 261), so even a doubled two-month deposit on most rents now fits comfortably in small claims.
Keep going
Related letters
Lease Termination Letter →
Formal notice with your move-out date, inspection request, and deposit instructions.
Demand Letter for Payment →
The last letter before small claims - amount, deadline, and consequence, in writing.
Repair Request Letter to Landlord →
A dated repair demand with a 14-day deadline your landlord can't claim they never got.