Landlord - Tenant

This article discusses the Maryland Accessibility Code, which provides certain rights to individuals with disabilities and their families when they rent living space.

Federal and state law prohibits discrimination in the rental, sale, advertising and financing of housing on the basis of your race, color, religion, gender, national origin, family status.

People often wrongly assume that any discrimination by a landlord is illegal. “To discriminate” means simply to distinguish among available choices. Some of these distinctions are lawful; others are not.

Leases are binding contracts between landlords and tenants. Maryland law imposes certain conditions on that contract but otherwise landlords and tenants are free to negotiate their own agreement.

Holding Over is when a tenant continues to live in a premises after the lease has expired. When a landlord consents to a holdover tenant remaining on the premises, a new monthly or weekly tenancy is created.

This articles lists the requirements for terminating or modifying a tenancy. It also covers what happens if a tenant or landlord dies.

This article describes the conditions and requirements for a landlord to evict a tenant for breaching the lease.

This law provides for eviction and other remedies if any property, residential or commercial, including mobile homes, is being used for drug-related activity.

One of the facts of life in a rental situation is that there is no substitute for a good landlord or a good tenant. Laws can define the relationship and the responsibilities of each party but there are always situations that are best resolved by being decent, courteous and fair.

Maryland state law prohibits the landlord from taking possession of the premises or tenant’s property without legal process. Should a lockout occur, the tenant has the right to hire a locksmith, change the locks, re-enter the premises, and hold the landlord responsible for the cost involved.

This article describes the procedure for eviction for failure to pay rent, known as "summary ejectment".

Employees of the federal government, Maryland State government, and a local government in Maryland have certain protections during a government shutdown where the employee is involuntarily furloughed from work. These protections apply even if the employee is required to report to work during the furlough.

If you are the tenant or other person with the right to possess a property, you may ask someone to leave. Even if you gave that person permission to enter the property, your guest must leave when you ask. If a guest or squatter refuses to leave, you may ask the court to issue an order to remove them by filing a "wrongful detainer" action in District Court. 

The article describes the process of going to rent court. Landlords can take their tenants to rent court to evict them for nonpayment of rent.

In an eviction proceeding for non-payment of rent, breach of lease, or holding over, if either tenant or landlord asks for a jury trial, tenant must pay into an escrow account all rent as it becomes due during the course of the action.

It is against the law in Maryland for a landlord to evict a tenant just because the tenant has brought suit against the landlord or participated in a suit against the landlord.

Distress for rent is a court procedure in which the landlord seeks to seize and sell certain of the tenant's possessions which are on the leased premises.

The business of owning and managing residential rental property is much like any business. It takes research, planning and knowledge. As a Maryland landlord, it is important that you know the federal, state and local laws governing the landlord tenant relationship.

If you are thinking of becoming a landlord, it is important to know the federal, state, and local laws governing the landlord-tenant relationship. This article will suggest some guidelines and resources.

Landlords are responsible to collect and handle security deposits in strict compliance with the law, to maintain certain records and receipts, and to post or provide certain information for tenants.

Landlords must assure that tenants get possession of the premises, but retain a right to enter the premises for reasonable purposes.

This law provides standards for the protection of consumers, including tenants and prospective tenants of residential property.

You can use this list of questions to check an apartment before you move in.

One of the facts of life in a rental situation is that there is no substitute for a good landlord or a good tenant. Laws can define the relationship and the responsibilities of each party but there are always situations that are best resolved by being decent, courteous and fair.

You have a right to carefully inspect an apartment or house before you put a deposit on it and especially before you sign a lease.

This article describes the reasons to and how to get renter's insurance.

Landlords must assure that tenants get possession of the premises, but retain a right to enter the premises for reasonable purposes.

Sharing an apartment with a friend or an acquaintance can be fun and economically worthwhile. Such sharing can also create some interesting problems.

A sublease is an agreement in which the original tenant leases to a subtenant all or part of the rented premises for all or part of the remainder of the original tenant's term.

The tax relief provided by this law is based on a calculation that includes your total income and the actual amount paid as occupancy rent.

There are times when a tenant needs a cosigner. Sometimes a tenant, through frugal spending habits, can actually pay the required rent, but doesn’t meet the basic income requirements of the industry.

Utilities are essential services necessary to make a dwelling livable. These include electricity, gas, water/sewage disposal, and trash collection.

Lease option agreements give tenants the option of purchasing the property.

A lease is any oral or written agreement, express or implied, creating a landlord-tenant relationship.

The law limits the amount of rent active military personnel have to pay if they are transferred.

This article defines what a security deposit is and what is required of tenants and landlords.

A lease is a contract. A minor is generally not bound by his or her contracts. This means that, if a minor enters into a contract, the law will allow the minor to "void" the contract.

A description of county laws and rules apply only to residents and property in Anne Arundel County.

In all residential leases in Baltimore City, whether oral or written, it is implied that the landlord covenants and warrants that the dwelling is fit for human habitation.

Baltimore City has a law proscribing how a landlord may dispose of a former tenant's possessions after the tenant has been evicted.

Baltimore City has many special laws regarding lead paint abatement.

When a landlord delays unreasonably or refuses to repair a condition which threatens the life, health or safety of the tenant, the rent escrow law provides several remedies, including the payment of rent into court so that the accumulated funds may be used to pay for repairs.

Special laws for landlord/tenant issues

Beginning on January 1, 2019, Baltimore City landlords must have a license to operate their premises or else lose their right to collect rent.

This law provides that before any voluntary transfer of title, such as a sale, of a single-family residential rental property takes place, the tenant of that property has the right of first refusal to purchase it.

How to raise your concerns at a Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals hearing in Baltimore City.

The following rental housing laws and rules apply specifically to residents and property in Baltimore County. Maryland state law may also apply. Some of these rules only apply to residential property.

Rental and housing laws vary from county to county. Local laws are one of the three different types of law that may apply to your rental or housing situation.

Montgomery County law requires landlords to fulfill certain requirements before and during a tenancy.

Special Laws that apply to Montgomery County and cities within.

Powers of the Human Rights Commission to eliminate discriminatory practices in housing in Prince George's County.

The Prince George's County Housing Code sets minimum standards for all structures intended or used for human habitation.

The following laws and rules apply only to residents or property in Prince George’s County. Note that the following rules apply only to Prince George’s County, and do not apply to any other areas of Maryland.

Learn about rental license requirements, including county and municipal requirements, and discover related resources.

The law requires some residential properties to have carbon monoxide alarms.

Landlords have responsibility to use ordinary care to keep common areas in safe condition.

Utilities are essential services necessary to make a dwelling livable. These include electricity, gas, water/sewage disposal, and trash collection.

Improvements to a leased property are changes made to the interior space that are permanent in nature.

Maryland and federal laws about lead paint are designed to reduce childhood lead poisoning. This article describes the duties of landlords and property owners of residential housing built before 1978.

Maryland and federal laws about lead paint are designed to reduce childhood lead poisoning. This article describes the rights of tenants and prospective buyers of residential housing built before 1978.

Tenants must return the premises at the end of the tenancy in substantially the same condition as when they moved in.

During the tenancy, the tenant is entitled to "quiet enjoyment" of the premises.

Residential requirements for smoke alarms and sprinkler systems

The Tenant Safety Act of 2024 established that every rental property offered for lease is deemed to be fit for human habitation.

This article focuses on evictions from Section 8 and Public Housing based on criminal activity.

This article focuses on eligibility and application information for rental housing assistance programs.

This article focuses on ending the lease in Section 8 and Public Housing rental housing assistance programs, including evictions and lockouts.

This article focuses on the specific requirements for leases in Tenant-based Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, the Project-Based Section 8 program, and Public Housing rental housing assistance programs for low-income families.

Provides general information on federal and state housing assistance programs.

This article focuses on how rent is determined for the Tenant-based Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, Project-Based Section 8 program, and Public Housing assistance programs for low-income families.

This article addresses the reasons that can lead to a Public Housing Agency (PHA) terminating a Section 8 voucher.

Explanations of common lawsuits between Landlords and Tenants.

The article describes the process of going to rent court. Landlords can take their tenants to rent court to evict them for nonpayment of rent.

This article lists many question you might have with rent escrow.

Rent escrow provides a process through which a tenant pays rent into a court account instead of to the landlord until the landlord makes needed repairs. You can file a petition to establish a rent escrow account in your local District Court by filling out a "Petition in Action of Rent Escrow" form.

The Tenant Safety Act of 2024 established that every rental property offered for lease is deemed to be fit for human habitation.

In Maryland, the owner of any property - an occupied apartment building as well as vacant, unimproved land - may subject that property to condominium ownership by following the procedure prescribed by law.

Maryland law provides protections for tenants when the property is foreclosed.

Tenant's rights when the property is sold.

A sublease is an agreement in which the original tenant leases to a subtenant all or part of the rented premises for all or part of the remainder of the original tenant's term.