A landlord must go to court to remove you.
A landlord who physically removes you and your belongings without a court order is breaking the law. Preventing your access to your home (for example, by obstructing entry or changing the locks) or rendering the home unlivable (for example, by turning off utilities) is also illegal. The law also prohibits retaliatory evictions, which are evictions motivated by your assertion of protected rights, such as a complaint the landlord has violated the Implied Warranty and Covenant of Habitability.[i]
These are all illegal evictions, and you should call local law enforcement and notify the Maine Attorney General’s Office if the landlord is threatening to or doing any of these things.
Notice to Quit
The first step in the legal eviction process is the notice to quit, which is the landlord’s formal notice of their intent to terminate the tenancy and evict you. A notice to quit is not a court order; it does not require you to leave your home.
If you have a lease, then the notice to quit must comply with the requirements of the lease.
If you have a lease but it expired less than 7 days ago, no notice to quit is required.
If you have no lease, or if your lease is silent as to any notice to quit requirements, then the landlord can provide a “no cause” 30-day notice to quit or a “for cause” 7-day notice to quit.
A landlord can issue a “no cause” 30-day notice to quit for no reason.
A landlord can issue a “for cause” 7-day notice to quit only for specific reasons such as non-payment of rent, damage to the rental property, or danger to other residents.
Court Proceeding
Only after a notice to quit expires can a landlord commence an eviction proceeding in court, known as an action for Forcible Entry and Detainer or FED.
You must be served with