Apartment Living Guide for New Mainers
A simple, picture-based guide to help residents keep their apartment clean, safe, peaceful, and pest-free.
Welcome Home
Welcome to your new home. Living in an apartment community means everyone shares responsibility for keeping the building clean, safe, quiet, and comfortable.
Picture-Based Quick Guide
Keep Your Home Clean
Clean kitchens, counters, floors, and dishes every day. A clean home helps prevent pests.
Do Not Leave Food Out
Store food in sealed containers. Do not leave food or dirty dishes out overnight.
Take Out Trash
Put trash in the proper dumpster or bins. Do not leave trash outside your door.
Prevent Cockroaches
Cockroaches come for food, water, and trash. Report pests right away.
Watch for Bed Bugs
Look for small bugs, black dots, stains, or bites. Report signs immediately.
Be Careful with Used Furniture
Used couches, mattresses, and chairs can bring bed bugs into your apartment.
Use Plumbing Correctly
Only flush toilet paper. Do not flush wipes, paper towels, food, or grease.
Report Maintenance Early
Report leaks, pests, no heat, broken appliances, clogs, and damage quickly.
Watch Your Children
Children must be supervised. Parents are responsible for damage caused by children.
Control Noise
No loud music, yelling, running, or jumping that disturbs neighbors.
No Smoking
No smoking inside apartments, buildings, hallways, or within 25 feet of the building.
No Unauthorized Occupants
You cannot move people into your apartment without landlord approval.
Important Apartment Rules
Plumbing Basics
Toilet Rules
Only flush toilet paper. Never flush wipes, diapers, paper towels, food, grease, or feminine products.
Clogged Toilet
Use a plunger first. If the clog does not clear, submit a maintenance request.
Water Shut-Off
Know where your water shut-off valve is. If water is leaking badly, shut off the water and call for help.
No Smoking Policy
This includes cigarettes, cigars, pipes, vaping, and marijuana unless your lease or property rules say otherwise.
Smoking can cause fires, damage the apartment, and disturb neighbors. Violations may result in cleaning charges, repair charges, fines, or lease action.
Additional Tips for Successful Apartment Living
Maine Winter Safety
Do not turn heat off in winter. Report no heat, frozen pipes, drafts, or ice hazards immediately.
Prevent Mold
Use bathroom fans, wipe up water, and report leaks or moisture problems.
Keep Exits Clear
Do not block hallways, stairs, exits, doors, or fire escapes.
Packages
Only take packages with your name. Pick up deliveries quickly.
Parking
Park only where allowed. Do not block driveways, dumpsters, or other cars.
Pets
Only approved pets are allowed. Clean up after pets immediately.
Translated Quick Guide
These translations are simplified resident reminders. For lease/legal use, professional translation review is recommended.
French / Français
Gardez votre appartement propre. Ne laissez pas de nourriture, de vaisselle sale ou de déchets dehors. Cela attire les cafards, les souris et les insectes.
Faites attention aux meubles usagés. Les matelas, canapés et chaises peuvent apporter des punaises de lit.
Signalez rapidement les fuites d’eau, les insectes, le chauffage qui ne fonctionne pas, les toilettes bouchées ou les dommages.
Il est interdit de fumer à l’intérieur ou à moins de 25 pieds du bâtiment.
Vous ne pouvez pas faire vivre d’autres personnes dans l’appartement sans l’autorisation du propriétaire.
Vous êtes responsable des dommages causés par vous, vos enfants ou vos invités.
Haitian Creole / Kreyòl Ayisyen
Kenbe apatman ou pwòp. Pa kite manje, asyèt sal, oswa fatra deyò. Sa ka atire ravèt, sourit, ak ensèk.
Fè atansyon ak mèb ki deja itilize. Matla, sofa, ak chèz ka pote pinèz kabann.
Rapòte pwoblèm vit: dlo k ap koule, ensèk, pa gen chalè, twalèt bouche, oswa domaj.
Fimen pa pèmèt andedan apatman an oswa nan 25 pye de bilding lan.
Ou pa ka fè lòt moun vin rete nan apatman an san pèmisyon pwopriyetè a.
Ou responsab pou domaj ou menm, pitit ou, oswa envite ou lakòz.
Spanish / Español
Mantenga su apartamento limpio. No deje comida, platos sucios ni basura afuera. Esto atrae cucarachas, ratones e insectos.
Tenga cuidado con los muebles usados. Colchones, sofás y sillas pueden traer chinches.
Reporte los problemas temprano: fugas de agua, plagas, falta de calefacción, inodoros tapados o daños.
No se permite fumar dentro del apartamento ni a menos de 25 pies del edificio.
No puede mudar a otras personas al apartamento sin permiso del propietario.
Usted es responsable por los daños causados por usted, sus hijos o sus invitados.
Portuguese / Português
Mantenha seu apartamento limpo. Não deixe comida, pratos sujos ou lixo do lado de fora. Isso atrai baratas, ratos e insetos.
Tenha cuidado com móveis usados. Colchões, sofás e cadeiras podem trazer percevejos.
Informe problemas cedo: vazamentos, pragas, falta de aquecimento, vaso sanitário entupido ou danos.
Não é permitido fumar dentro do apartamento ou a menos de 25 pés do prédio.
Você não pode permitir que outras pessoas morem no apartamento sem permissão do proprietário.
Você é responsável por danos causados por você, seus filhos ou seus convidados.
Farsi / فارسی
آپارتمان خود را تمیز نگه دارید. غذا، ظرفهای کثیف یا زباله را بیرون نگذارید. این کار سوسک، موش و حشرات را جذب میکند.
در مورد وسایل دستدوم دقت کنید. تشک، مبل و صندلی ممکن است ساس تختخواب داشته باشند.
مشکلات را زود گزارش کنید: نشت آب، حشرات، نداشتن گرما، گرفتگی توالت یا خسارت.
سیگار کشیدن داخل آپارتمان یا در فاصله کمتر از ۲۵ فوت از ساختمان مجاز نیست.
شما نمیتوانید بدون اجازه صاحبخانه افراد دیگری را در آپارتمان ساکن کنید.
شما مسئول خسارتهایی هستید که خودتان، فرزندانتان یا مهمانانتان ایجاد میکنند.
Arabic / العربية
حافظ على نظافة شقتك. لا تترك الطعام أو الأطباق المتسخة أو القمامة في الخارج. هذا يجذب الصراصير والفئران والحشرات.
كن حذرًا مع الأثاث المستعمل. قد تنقل المراتب والأرائك والكراسي بقّ الفراش.
أبلغ عن المشاكل مبكرًا: تسرب الماء، الحشرات، عدم وجود تدفئة، انسداد المرحاض، أو الأضرار.
لا يُسمح بالتدخين داخل الشقة أو على بعد أقل من 25 قدمًا من المبنى.
لا يمكنك إسكان أشخاص آخرين في الشقة بدون موافقة المالك.
أنت مسؤول عن الأضرار التي تسببها أنت أو أطفالك أو ضيوفك.
Chinese / 中文
请保持公寓清洁。不要把食物、脏盘子或垃圾放在外面。这会吸引蟑螂、老鼠和昆虫。
使用二手家具时要小心。床垫、沙发和椅子可能带来臭虫。
请尽早报告问题：漏水、害虫、没有暖气、马桶堵塞或损坏。
公寓内、楼内以及距离建筑物25英尺以内禁止吸烟。
未经房东同意，不能让其他人搬进公寓居住。
您需要对自己、孩子或客人造成的损坏负责。
Resident Acknowledgment
I understand that I am responsible for keeping my apartment clean, reporting maintenance issues, following building rules, supervising my children and guests, preventing pests, and paying for damages caused by me, my children, guests, or unauthorized occupants.