Evidence for Your Security Deposit Case
The best evidence is usually simple: dates, documents, photos, messages, and proof of delivery.
For Maine, the lease type and deadline facts matter more than renters often expect.
Think of this as your working file. You are trying to show which deadline applies, when surrender and acceptance happened, what the landlord itemized, what deductions are unsupported, and whether the 7-day notice step was preserved.
What Matters Most in Maine
Organize:
- written lease, if any
- proof of tenancy type if there is no written lease
- deposit amount and payment proof
- lease deadline for deposit return
- tenancy termination date
- surrender and acceptance records
- move-in and move-out photos
- written itemized statement, if any
- refund records
- demand letters and proof they were sent
- final 7-day notice-before-suit proof, if the dispute is moving toward court
- landlord responses
Why Deadline Evidence Matters
Maine uses different deadlines depending on whether you had a written rental agreement or a tenancy at will.
That means your records should show which rule applies and when the clock started. For a tenancy at will, surrender and acceptance can move the timing, so do not rely only on the date you physically left.
What to Photograph
- floors
- walls
- appliances
- bathrooms
- kitchen surfaces
- windows and doors
- any disputed damage
- cleaned and empty rooms
What to Do After You Have Everything
Start with the deadline, then the written itemization, then the deductions. If court-focused escalation is next, keep the 7-day notice-before-suit proof with the rest of the file.
Start here if your deposit was not returned: Deposit Not Returned
Or go straight to: Security Deposit Demand Letter