How to Delay an Eviction in Maine

Maine tenants can be evicted for a number of different reasons, including not paying rent or violating the lease. However, there may be a few things you can do to postpone the eviction, or perhaps even stop it altogether.

Understanding Your Eviction Notice

A landlord who decides to evict you will first send you a written notice that states the reason for the eviction and a time period to either comply with the notice, if possible, or move out of the rental unit. In Maine, you could typically receive one of three types of eviction notices, depending on the reason for the eviction:

• Seven-day notice to pay or quit: You can receive this notice if you did not pay rent when it was due. Under this notice, you will have seven days to either pay rent or move out of the rental unit (see Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 14 § 6002).
• Seven-day notice to quit: You can receive this notice if you have damaged the rental unit, created a nuisance at the rental unit, or committed domestic violence or sexual assault against another tenant. Under this notice, you will have seven days to move out of the rental unit (see Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 14 § 6002).
• Thirty-day notice to quit: You can receive this notice if you have a month-to-month rental agreement that your landlord wants to end. Under this notice, you will have 30 days to move out of the rental unit (see Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 14 § 6002).

It is important to note that you are not automatically evicted when the time period runs out. An eviction is a legal proceeding. If you did not comply with the eviction notice by the time the notice period ends, your landlord can then go to court and file the necessary paperwork to begin the eviction lawsuit against you. Depending on how busy the courts are, it could take anywhere from a week to months before a sheriff is ordered to evict you on a certain date. You can remain living in the rental unit until the sheriff is ordered to evict you, but remember that you will be required to pay the landlord rent until the day you move out of the unit.

Also, keep in mind that there are negative consequences to being evicted, other than losing your home. An eviction will have a negative impact on your credit report, and it could affect your prospects for future housing. Some landlords will not rent to people who have been evicted from a previous rental.

For more information on the eviction process in Maine, see The Eviction Process in Maine. Also, if you are being evicted because the rental property is being foreclosed, see the Nolo article Rights of Renters in Foreclosure.

If you are considering filing for bankruptcy to stop your eviction, you should look at Evictions and the Automatic Stay in Bankruptcy. Filing for bankruptcy may not stop an eviction, and you should carefully consider your options before doing so.

Talk to Your Landlord

If you receive an eviction notice, you should first try talking to your landlord. You may be able to come to an agreement without going to court. An eviction will cost both of you money (as well as time), and your landlord may be willing to stop the eviction if you agree to certain terms, such as paying rent you owe or stopping behavior that violates the lease. If you can't come to an agreement that prevents you from moving out, perhaps you can agree on a certain date and time for when you will move out of the rental unit.

If you and the landlord are able to agree on anything, be sure to get the agreement in writing, signed and dated by both of you.

Comply With the Eviction Notice, If Possible

If you are being evicted for not paying rent, then your eviction notice will state how much you owe and when it is due. If you comply with the eviction notice by paying all the rent due and owing, then, in Maine, the landlord must not proceed with the eviction (see Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 14 § 6002).

If you are not able to comply with the eviction notice within the time period stated in the notice, then you should talk to your landlord. For example, if you are being evicted for failure to pay rent, you will receive a seven-day eviction notice. If you can't pay the rent in full within seven days but you could by the end of the month, you should talk to your landlord to see if you can arrange to pay later. If your landlord agrees to terms that are different from the eviction notice, then you should get the agreement in writing.

Attend the Eviction Hearing

If you do not comply with the eviction notice and you and your landlord are not able to reach an agreement, then your landlord can file an eviction lawsuit with the court. You will receive a copy of the paperwork after your landlord files, and you will then be required to file an answer in response to your landlord's complaint. An answer is a document that allows you to state the reasons why you should not be evicted. This is where you need to put any defenses to the eviction, such as the landlord evicting you based on discrimination. In Maine, it is illegal for a landlord to evict you based on your religion, race, or sexual orientation, among other protected categories. If you are being evicted based on one of these protected classes, then you can use that as a defense against the eviction (see the federal Fair Housing Act and Maine's Human Rights Act). For more ideas on possible defenses against an eviction, see Tenant Defenses to Evictions in Maine. You should also contact a lawyer to ensure you are using the best defenses available to you.

After you file your answer with the courthouse, then you must attend the scheduled hearing. At the hearing, the judge will listen to both you and the landlord and make a decision regarding the eviction. If you do not file an answer or attend the hearing, then the judge will most likely rule against you, even if you have a good defense.

Even if you don't have any defenses against the eviction, you should still attend the hearing and talk to the judge. Depending on your circumstances (such as if you have minor children living at home or health issues), the judge might not schedule the eviction right away. The judge might give you a little extra time to prepare and move out of the rental unit before ordering a sheriff to perform the eviction. Keep in mind, though, that you will still owe your landlord rent until you move out of the rental unit.