AUGUSTA - On Wednesday, Gov. Janet Mills signed a bill from Rep. Chris Kessler, D-South Portland, to limit the fees that a landlord can charge a prospective tenant as part of a rental application.
LD 691 will prohibit landlords from charging potential renters a fee to submit an application. However, they will still be allowed to charge for the actual costs associated with conducting a one-time background check, credit check or other screening once in any 12-month period.
"In today's tight rental housing market, prospective tenants sometimes have to see and apply to dozens of apartments before finding a place to live," said Kessler. "This can often mean paying hundreds of dollars in application fees, which many folks simply cannot afford. By placing reasonable limits on how much a landlord can charge to complete the application process, this legislation eases the financial burden on prospective tenants while still allowing landlords to recoup the costs required to conduct background checks and screenings."
Maine now becomes the latest New England state to impose restrictions on these fees, joining Massachusetts and Vermont.
The new law will go into effect 90 days after final adjournment of the legislative session.
Kessler, a member of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, is serving his third term in the Maine House and represents part of Cape Elizabeth and part of South Portland.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Kessler], c. 305-965-2744