Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 6000–6016-A § 6014
Remedies for illegal evictions
Operative Text
1. Illegal evictions. Except as permitted by Title 15, chapter 517 or Title 17, chapter 91 , evictions that are effected without resort to the provisions of this chapter are illegal and against public policy. Illegal evictions include, but are not limited to, the following. A. No landlord may willfully cause, directly or indirectly, the interruption or termination of any utility service being supplied to the tenant including, but not limited to, water, heat, light, electricity, gas, telephone, sewerage, elevator or refrigeration, whether or not the utility service is under the control of the landlord, except for such temporary interruption as may be necessary while actual repairs are in process or during temporary emergencies. B. No landlord may willfully seize, hold or otherwise directly or indirectly deny a tenant access to and possession of the tenant's rented or leased premises, other than through proper judicial process. C. No landlord may willfully seize, hold or otherwise directly or indirectly deny a tenant access to and possession of the tenant's property, other than by proper judicial process. 2. Remedies. Upon a finding that an illegal eviction has occurred, the court shall find one or both of the following. A. The tenant is entitled to recover actual damages or $250, whichever is greater. B. The tenant is entitled to recover the aggregate amount of costs and expenses determined by the court to have been reasonably incurred on the tenant's behalf in connection with the prosecution or defense of such action, together with a reasonable amount for attorneys' fees. 3. Good faith. A court may award attorneys' fees to the defendant if, upon motion and hearing, it is determined that an action filed pursuant to this section was not brought in good faith and was frivolous or intended for harassment only. 4. Nonexclusivity. The remedies provided in this section are in addition to any other rights and remedies conferred by law.
Maine law under 14 M.R.S. § 6014 makes it illegal for a landlord to remove or exclude a tenant from a rental unit through any means other than the formal court eviction process established in the chapter. Specific prohibited conduct includes cutting off utility services (such as water, heat, electricity, or gas), physically blocking access to the rental premises, or seizing or withholding a tenant's personal property — all without going through proper judicial process. When a court finds that an illegal eviction occurred, the tenant is entitled to actual damages or $250 (whichever is greater), plus potentially reasonable attorney's fees and litigation costs. These remedies are cumulative and do not replace any other legal rights the tenant may have.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 14 M.R.S. § 6014, compliant property operators in Maine rely exclusively on the formal court-supervised eviction process when seeking to end a tenancy — they do not interrupt utility services, change locks, remove doors, or withhold a tenant's belongings as a means of pressuring a tenant to leave. Even when a landlord believes a tenant has no right to remain, the law requires judicial process before any action that effectively removes the tenant or denies access to the premises or property. Operators who deviate from this process expose themselves to court-ordered damages of at least $250 per incident, plus potential attorney's fees and costs, on top of any other applicable legal liability.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 6014 of Title 14 of the Maine Revised Statutes gives tenants the right to remain in their rental home and to access their belongings until a landlord obtains a court order through the proper eviction process. If a landlord shuts off utilities, changes locks, removes possessions, or otherwise forces a tenant out without going through the courts, that conduct is an illegal eviction under this provision, and a tenant may pursue a court claim for actual damages or at least $250 — whichever is greater — along with attorney's fees and costs. Tenants who believe they have experienced an illegal eviction may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization, a legal aid office, or the Maine courts to learn about available enforcement paths under § 6014.
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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