Abandoned Property Laws in Maine 2025

When a Maine tenant moves out and leaves belongings behind, you can't simply toss them. 14 M.R.S. § 6013 sets out a specific path: store the property, mail a written notice with an itemized list, wait out a 7-day claim window, and only then sell or discard what's left. Follow it and you're protected; skip a step and you risk a conversion claim from a tenant who says you destroyed their belongings. There is no general federal statute for this, abandoned tenant property is governed entirely by state law and your lease, so Maine's section 6013 is the controlling authority for residential rentals.

This page walks through what Maine actually requires: how to store the items, exactly what the notice must say and how to send it, how long you wait, and where any sale proceeds go.

Step-by-Step: Handling Abandoned Property in Maine

Follow these steps precisely to protect yourself from liability under 14 M.R.S. § 6013:

1. Document the abandoned property immediately. As soon as you regain possession of the unit, conduct a thorough walk-through. Take dated photographs and video of all items left behind. Create a written inventory listing each item, its approximate condition, and estimated value. This documentation is your primary protection against later claims.
2. Send required written notice. Mail or deliver written notice to the tenant's last known address and any forwarding address you have on file. Under 14 M.R.S. § 6013, you must give 7 days notice before disposing of or selling the property. The notice should describe the items, their location, and the deadline for retrieval.
3. Secure the property during the notice period. While storage is not legally required in Maine, keeping items in a secure location establishes a clear paper trail and protects potentially high-value items from claims of damage or disappearance.
4. Assess the property. Even without a statutory value threshold, document estimated values for each item. If items appear potentially valuable, consider a public sale to maximize recoverable costs and minimize dispute risk.
5. Apply sale proceeds to costs. After the notice period expires and any required sale is conducted, apply proceeds first to unpaid rent, then to storage costs, then to sale costs. Remit any remaining balance to the tenant. Keep detailed records of all calculations.
6. Retain all records for at least 3 years. Keep your written inventory, photographs, notice letters, delivery confirmations, storage receipts, sale records, and proceeds accounting. If the tenant later claims improper handling, this documentation is your defense.

When property counts as abandoned in Maine

Section 6013 applies to personal property that is abandoned or unclaimed by a tenant following the tenant's vacating the rental unit, or left behind after a court enters judgment for the landlord in an eviction. Unlike some states, Maine does not fix a specific number of days that must pass before belongings are deemed abandoned, the trigger is the tenant leaving the unit, not a countdown.

Because there is no bright-line waiting period, be careful not to treat a unit as abandoned while a tenant still has a right to possess it. Jumping the gun, clearing out a unit before the tenancy has actually ended or before you have a judgment, exposes you to liability far greater than the hassle of following the process. Once the tenant is genuinely out, section 6013 governs everything you do with what remains.

Storing the property safely

Maine requires you to place the property in storage in a safe, dry, secured location. That standard matters: leaving items exposed to weather, or piling them where they can be stolen or damaged, undercuts the protection the statute gives you and can turn into a damages claim. You may store the belongings on-site or in a separate storage space, the law cares about condition and security, not location.

As you move the items, build your itemized inventory at the same time. You'll need that list for the notice anyway, and a dated inventory (photos help) is your best evidence if a tenant later disputes what was left or its condition. The costs you incur storing the property are recoverable later from the tenant or from sale proceeds, so keep receipts.

The written notice and the 7-day window

Before you can dispose of anything, you must send the tenant written notice by first-class mail, with proof of mailing, to the tenant's last known address. Proof of mailing is not optional, it's how you show the clock started. The notice must include an itemized list of the items and containers of items and must tell the tenant that if they do not respond within 7 days, you may dispose of the property.

The 7 days run from when the notice is sent. If the tenant makes an oral or written claim within that window, you must release the property to them, and here Maine is strict: you may not condition release on payment of any fee, back rent, or other amount the tenant owes you when they claim within the 7 days. If a tenant responds, you must keep storing the property for at least 14 days after the notice was sent, giving them a reasonable chance to actually retrieve it.

Selling, releasing, or discarding after 7 days

If the tenant does not claim the property within the 7-day window, section 6013 gives you three remedies, and you can use one or more of them:

• Condition release on payment. Once the claim window has passed, you may require the tenant to pay all rental arrearages, damages, and costs of storage before you hand the property back.
• Sell it. You may sell the property for a reasonable fair market price and apply the proceeds to rental arrearages, damages, and the costs of storage and sale.
• Discard it. You may dispose of any property that has no reasonable fair market value, trash, broken items, and the like.

Note what Maine does not require: there is no statutory dollar threshold separating "sell" from "discard," and no public-auction posting or advertisement requirement. The test is simply reasonable fair market value. Sell at a fair price and document how you arrived at it.

Where the money goes

When you sell abandoned property, the proceeds first cover what the tenant owes you, rental arrearages, damages, and the costs of storage and sale. That order matters: you recover your legitimate costs before anything is left over.

Whatever remains after those deductions does not become yours to keep. Under section 6013, all remaining balances must be forwarded to the Treasurer of State as unclaimed property. Keep clean records of the sale price, your itemized deductions, and the surplus you remit, so that if the former tenant later surfaces, you can show exactly where their money went.

Related Guides for Maine Landlords

This page summarizes 14 M.R.S. § 6013 (Property unclaimed by tenant), within Title 14, Chapter 709 of the Maine Revised Statutes, as in effect for 2026. It reflects the statute's text on storage, notice, the 7-day claim period, the 14-day extended storage period, the three disposal remedies, and remittance of surplus proceeds to the Treasurer of State.

It is general information for Maine landlords, not legal advice, and does not cover every situation, for example, property left after death, mobile-home tenancies, or fact-specific disputes over value. Statutes and their interpretation can change. Confirm the current text of section 6013 and consult a Maine attorney or Pine Tree Legal Assistance before acting in a specific case.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long must a Maine landlord wait before disposing of a tenant's property?

You must first mail written notice with an itemized list, then wait 7 days from when the notice was sent. If the tenant responds within that window, you must keep storing the property for at least 14 days after the notice was sent. Only if no claim is made within 7 days may you sell or discard it.

What must the abandoned-property notice say under 14 M.R.S. 6013?

It must be in writing, sent by first-class mail with proof of mailing to the tenant's last known address, include an itemized list of the items and containers of items, and state that the landlord may dispose of the property if the tenant does not respond within 7 days.

Can I charge the tenant back rent before returning their belongings?

Not if they claim the property within the 7-day window. Maine bars you from conditioning release on any fee or amount owed during that period. After the 7 days pass with no claim, you may condition release on payment of rental arrearages, damages, and storage costs.

Is there a dollar amount that decides whether I sell or throw the property out?

No. Section 6013 sets no dollar threshold. You may sell property for a reasonable fair market price, or discard property that has no reasonable fair market value. The test is fair market value, not a fixed dollar figure.

Do I have to hold a public auction to sell abandoned property in Maine?

No. The statute does not require a public sale, posting, or advertisement. It requires only that you sell for a reasonable fair market price and apply the proceeds as the law directs.

What happens to leftover money after I sell the property and cover what I'm owed?

After applying proceeds to rental arrearages, damages, and the costs of storage and sale, any remaining balance must be forwarded to the Treasurer of State. You cannot keep the surplus.

Statutory citation: 14 M.R.S. § 6013. Laws current as of 2025, verify against your state's current statutes before acting. Last updated August 28, 2026. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for your specific situation.