Maine Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
Maine rules on subletting, lease endings & tenant death for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-23.
Short answer: When a written lease term expires, the landlord may bring an eviction case ('forcible entry and detainer') against the tenant without any notice if the case is started within 7 days after the term expires (14 M.R.S. §6001(1)). 14 M.R.S. §6001(1); 14 M.R.S. §6002
The rules in Maine
| When the lease ends | When a written lease term expires, the landlord may bring an eviction case ('forcible entry and detainer') against the tenant without any notice if the case is started within 7 days after the term expires (14 M.R.S. §6001(1)). A tenancy at will (no fixed term) is ended by at least 30 days' written notice from either party, and the notice must tell the tenant of the right to contest the termination in court (14 M.R.S. §6002). The sections read do not address automatic-renewal clauses or set a holdover rent penalty. |
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Maine vs. neighboring states
| State | Subletting | When the lease ends | If a tenant dies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | Not verified yet | When a written lease term expires, the landlord may bring an eviction case ('forcible entry and detainer') against the tenant without any notice if the case is started within 7 days after the term expires (14 M.R.S. §6001(1)). A tenancy at will (no fixed term) is ended by at least 30 days' written notice from either party, and the notice must tell the tenant of the right to contest the termination in court (14 M.R.S. §6002). 14 M.R.S. §6001(1); 14 M.R.S. §6002 | Not verified yet |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire law treats a person who rents from a tenant as a 'subtenant' only if the tenant has the landlord's authorization to sublet. A person who is not a tenant, an authorized subtenant, or an 'implied tenant' (living there with the knowledge and consent of both the tenant and the landlord) may not occupy the property without the owner's or landlord's permission, and the landlord may petition the court to remove them. RSA 540-A:1, II; RSA 540-A:3, IX; RSA 540-A:4 | For 'restricted property' (most residential rentals), a landlord may end a tenancy only for listed reasons. The end of a lease counts as a reason only if the lease was for 12 months or more (or has been renewed to a total of 12 months or more), the landlord gave the tenant written notice at least 60 days before the end date that the lease will not be renewed and the tenant must leave, and the landlord files the eviction case within 6 months after the lease expires. For 'nonrestricted property' (for example, a single-family house whose owner owns no more than 3, or a unit in an owner-occupied building of 4 or fewer units), the landlord may end any tenancy with a written notice to quit. RSA 540:1-a; RSA 540:2, I-II | New Hampshire's landlord-tenant statutes (RSA chapters 540 and 540-A) have no provision on what happens to a lease, the deposit, or the tenant's belongings when a tenant dies. RSA ch. 540 (reviewed); RSA ch. 540-A (reviewed) |
More Maine rental law
- Maine Security Deposit Law
- Maine Eviction Laws
- Maine Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in Maine
- Maine Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- Maine Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
- Breaking a Lease in Maine
- Squatters' Rights in Maine
- Maine Rental Fee Rules
- Maine Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- Maine Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- Maine Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- Maine Landlord Selling the House
- Maine Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
- All Maine landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in Maine
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Maine Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death FAQ
What happens when my lease ends in Maine?
When a written lease term expires, the landlord may bring an eviction case ('forcible entry and detainer') against the tenant without any notice if the case is started within 7 days after the term expires (14 M.R.S. §6001(1)). A tenancy at will (no fixed term) is ended by at least 30 days' written notice from either party, and the notice must tell the tenant of the right to contest the termination in court (14 M.R.S. §6002). (14 M.R.S. §6001(1); 14 M.R.S. §6002)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.