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Legal Information: Maine

Housing Laws

Laws current as of October 4, 2024

If the abuser and I live together, can the landlord evict the abuser?

If you and the abuser are both tenants on the lease or if the abuser is the only named tenant but you live there too, a landlord can divide (bifurcate) the lease in order to evict the abuser.1 The landlord would issue a seven-day notice of termination to terminate the tenancy of the abuser, thereby beginning the eviction process.2 Note: Through the process of dividing the lease, the landlord cannot interfere with any rights you have to the property through a valid court order. Also, dividing the lease does not necessarily mean that dividing the lease would create tenancy rights for you or the abuser that didn’t otherwise exist.1

1 ME ST T. 14 § 6001(6)(C)
2 ME ST T. 14 § 6002(1)(D)

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