Operative Text
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Rule, any change in the responsibility for payment of utilities from Owner-paid to tenant-paid or tenant-paid to Owner-paid must be approved by MSHA prior to implementation.
Under 99-346 Code of Maine Rules ch. 5, any shift in who is responsible for paying utilities — whether moving from owner-paid to tenant-paid or the reverse — cannot take effect until the Maine State Housing Authority (MSHA) has reviewed and approved the change. This requirement applies regardless of other provisions within the same rule. The approval must come before the change is implemented, not after the fact.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 99-346 Code of Maine Rules ch. 5, operators who wish to change utility payment responsibility — in either direction — must submit the proposed change to MSHA and receive formal approval before making any adjustment. Compliant property managers document the approval and ensure no billing or lease changes take effect until MSHA has signed off. Implementing such a change without prior MSHA approval would place the owner in violation of this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 99-346 Code of Maine Rules ch. 5, tenants have a right to know that any switch in utility payment responsibility — such as shifting costs from the owner to the tenant — requires MSHA approval before it can legally take effect. If a landlord attempts to implement such a change without that prior approval, tenants may have grounds to raise the violation with MSHA directly. Tenant-rights organizations in Maine can help residents understand what options are generally available when this provision may not have been followed.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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