RR
Rent Regulations

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 5, §§ 205-A–214 § 207

Unlawful acts and conduct

In Force
Verified 10/21/2026 · Next check 10/28/2026
effective 10/21/2026MaineFair Housing & Anti-Discrimination

Operative Text

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 5, §§ 205-A–214 § 207
Unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce are declared unlawful.




1.
Intent.
It is the intent of the Legislature that in construing this section the courts will be guided by the interpretations given by the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Courts to Section 45(a)(1) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 United States Code 45(a)(1)), as from time to time amended.






2.
Rules and regulations.
The Attorney General may make rules and regulations interpreting this section. Such rules and regulations shall not be inconsistent with the rules, regulations and decisions of the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Courts interpreting the provisions of 15 U.S.C. 45(a)(1) (The Federal Trade Commission Act) as from time to time amended. Evidence of a violation of a rule or regulation made by the Attorney General shall constitute prima facie evidence of an act or practice declared to be unlawful by this chapter in any action thereafter brought under this chapter.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Maine law under 5 M.R.S. §§ 205-A & 207 declares unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in trade or commerce to be unlawful. Courts interpreting this provision look to how the Federal Trade Commission and federal courts have construed the analogous federal prohibition under 15 U.S.C. § 45(a)(1). The Maine Attorney General is authorized to issue rules and regulations under this section, and a violation of those rules serves as prima facie evidence of an unlawful act in any subsequent legal action.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 22, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Property owners and managers operating in Maine should be aware that 5 M.R.S. §§ 205-A & 207 prohibits deceptive or unfair practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce, including rental housing. Compliant operators generally ensure that their advertising, lease terms, fee disclosures, and communications with tenants are accurate, transparent, and free from misleading representations. Because the Attorney General's rules under this section carry evidentiary weight in court proceedings, operators typically stay informed of any guidance or regulations issued under this provision.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Under 5 M.R.S. §§ 205-A & 207, tenants in Maine have protections against unfair or deceptive acts and practices by those engaged in trade or commerce, which can include rental housing transactions. If a landlord's conduct appears to involve misrepresentation, hidden fees, or other deceptive practices, this provision may be relevant to a complaint or legal claim. Tenants can explore filing a complaint with the Maine Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division or consult a tenant-rights organization to understand how this provision and any related rules might apply to their circumstances.

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.

Effective Timeline

Expression #1
Oct 21, 2026
Current
Oct 21, 2026
Click on timeline segments to view historical versions.

References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

Me. Rev. Stat. § 45
Not yet ingested

References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 5, ch. 10
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 5, § 207
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 5, ch. 10
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 5, § 207
Me. Rev. Stat. § 207
Me. Rev. Stat. § 209
Me. Rev. Stat. § 207
Me. Rev. Stat. § 211
Me. Rev. Stat. § 207
Me. Rev. Stat. § 209
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 5, ch. 10
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 5, § 207
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 5, ch. 10
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 5, § 207
Me. Rev. Stat. § 207
Me. Rev. Stat. § 209
Me. Rev. Stat. § 207
Me. Rev. Stat. § 211
Me. Rev. Stat. § 207
Me. Rev. Stat. § 209

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§ 5.109
§ 5.109 Equal participation of faith-based organizations in HUD programs and activities.
§ 2
Policies; recommendations

Source Information

Source:https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/5/title5sec207.html
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