Under Maine law, once you notify your landlord about bedbugs, they must inspect within 5 days and, in many cases, hire a pest control professional within 10 days. If they don't, you may be entitled to damages—and they have to pay your legal fees. Some law firms take these cases for no upfront cost to you.
Send Your Notice Now →Maine's bedbug statute (14 M.R.S. § 6021-A) gives tenants real power. Here's what your landlord is required to do.
Tell your landlord—oral or written—that you suspect bedbugs. That's it. The clock starts. But written notice is better because it's proof. Email, text, or a letter all work. This tool helps you send any of them.
Your landlord must inspect your unit within 5 days of receiving your notice. They can't ignore it or delay.
If bedbugs are found (or reasonably suspected), your landlord must contact a certified pest control agent within 10 days.
If your landlord doesn't follow the law, you can sue. A jury decides what they owe for making you live with bedbugs—and if you win, they pay your attorney's fees too. That's why some lawyers take these cases with no money upfront from you.
Anti-Retaliation Protection: If your landlord tries to evict you within 6 months of your bedbug notice, Maine law presumes it's retaliation. The burden is on them to prove otherwise.
We made it easy to exercise your rights under Maine law.
Answer a few questions about your situation. The tool makes a notice that you can send to your landlord and property manager.
Email, text, or download a PDF to mail. Any method counts as written notice under Maine law.
Your landlord now has 5 days to inspect. If they don't—or if bedbugs are found and they don't hire pest control—you may have a legal claim.
If your landlord doesn't inspect within 5 days—or doesn't follow through—you have options. Already told your landlord and nothing happened? You may already have a claim. Talk to a lawyer who handles these cases.
Takes about 2 minutes. 100% free.
This is formal written notice under 14 M.R.S. § 6021-A. Once your landlord receives it, they have 5 days to inspect and 10 days to hire a pest control agent if bedbugs are found.
✓ Your email app should have opened with the letter ready to send.
Don't forget to hit Send! And keep a copy for your records.Pick one (or more). Any of these counts as written notice under Maine law. We recommend sending it more than one way.
After you send your notice, here's how the timeline works under Maine law.
Your landlord receives your written notice about the suspected bedbug infestation. Keep a copy for your records—you may need it later.
Your landlord has 5 days to inspect your unit. They must give you 24 hours notice before entering (unless you waive it).
If bedbugs are found or reasonably suspected, your landlord must contact a state-certified pest control operator within 10 days of your notice.
You can sue. A jury decides what they owe for making you live with bedbugs—and if you win, they pay your attorney's fees too. That's why some lawyers take these cases with no money upfront from you.
This free tool is provided by Island Justice, LLC, a consumer protection firm in Stonington, Maine. We take bedbug cases on contingency—no upfront cost to you.
Contact Island Justice →Are you an attorney who handles bedbug cases in Maine? Contact help@islandjusticelaw.com to be listed here.
No. This tool provides legal information about Maine's bedbug statute and helps you generate a notice letter. It does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice about your specific situation, contact a licensed attorney.
Yes. There's no charge to use this tool or generate your notice letter. We built it as a public service. If you later decide you need legal representation, you can contact us—but there's no obligation.
Document everything: keep your copy of the notice, note when you sent it, and track whether your landlord inspects or takes action. If they fail to comply with the 5-day inspection or 10-day pest control deadlines, you may have a legal claim. Contact an attorney to discuss your options.
Maine law specifically protects you from this. If your landlord files for eviction within 6 months of your bedbug notice, the law presumes it's retaliation. Your landlord would have to prove otherwise in court.
It means you don't pay anything upfront. The attorney only gets paid if you win or settle your case—typically a percentage of what's recovered. In bedbug cases, Maine law also requires the landlord to pay your attorney's fees, which makes these cases viable even when individual damages are modest.
No. The notice establishes a record and starts the statutory clock. Whether you have a viable legal claim depends on many factors, including whether your landlord complies with their obligations and whether you can document your damages. An attorney can evaluate your specific situation.