Maryland is a relatively tenant-friendly state. From stern security deposit regulations to required lease disclosures to mandatory rental property registrations, every move you make as a landlord is regulated by the state and often the county as well. Be careful in all your interactions with tenants in the State of Maryland.
Maryland Landlord-Tenant Laws At a Glance:
Security Deposit Limit: two months’ rent
Late Fee Limit: 5% of rent
Late Fee Chargeable After: five days after due date (exception: Montgomery County, ten days)
Returned Payment Fee Limit: $35
Notice to End Lease: 60 days
Maryland Security Deposits:
Maryland security deposits cannot exceed two months’ rent, and that includes pet deposits or any other refundable deposit collected upon signing the lease agreement.
Landlords and property managers must hold security deposits in a separate, interest-bearing escrow account, located within the state of Maryland. They must deposit the funds into this account within 30 days of receiving them.
Further, property managers and landlords must supply the tenant with a Maryland Security Deposit Receipt Disclosure, informing them of details about where their security deposit is held.
Within 45 days of the tenant moving out of the leased premises, the landlord must either return the security deposit in full or provide a written breakdown of any expenses deducted along with any remaining balance.
The landlord must also pay the tenant interest on the security deposit – see the official Maryland Rental Security Deposit Calculator to calculate the amount of interest owed.
Notes on County-Specific Laws:
Baltimore: Baltimore City has extremely tenant-friendly laws. Evictions take a long time, and the property must be registered annually with the City of Baltimore. There are several disclosures that should be included with lease packages depending on the tenancy, including the Baltimore City Disclosure of Expenses and Baltimore City Flood Zone Disclosure. Speak with an attorney or property manager familiar with Baltimore City landlord-tenant laws if you’ve never leased there before.
Montgomery County: There is a separate Montgomery County Lease Agreement Rider that must be included with all Maryland leases for rental units in Montgomery County.
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Maryland-Specific Rental Documents:
Maryland Lead Paint Disclosure: Required along with the Maryland lease agreement, the MDE Lead Paint Pamphlet, the HUD Lead-Based Paint Disclosure and the EPA Lead-Based Paint Pamphlet, for rental properties built before 1978.
Maryland Department of the Environment Lead Paint Pamphlet: Required to be given to the tenant when the lease agreement is signed, and every two years thereafter.
Maryland Security Deposit Receipt Disclosure: Required to be delivered and signed alongside Maryland lease agreements.
Maryland Notice to Vacate: In most cases, this eviction notice gives the tenant 30 days to comply and stop violating the rental agreement. If they continue to violate the lease, the landlord can then file in court for eviction.
Baltimore City Disclosure of Expenses: A mandatory disclosure of all expenses related to the rental property, to be delivered along with the rental agreement.
Baltimore City Flood Zone Disclosure: This is required to be presented with the lease, if the rental property is in a flood zone.
Montgomery County Lease Agreement Rider: Required for all lease agreements in Montgomery County.
Maryland Rental Property Registration:
Statewide: Landlords must register their rental properties with the Maryland Department of the Environment every year, and (of course) pay an annual fee.
County-Specific: Some Maryland counties require that rental properties also register with them annually, including (but not limited to) Baltimore City, Montgomery County and Howard County. They also charge annual registration fees.
Landlord Right of Entry:
In Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, the landlord must give the tenant 24 hours’ notice before entering the rental unit, except for emergencies. Giving 24 hours’ written notice is a good rule of thumb for landlords in other Maryland counties, to prevent tenant lawsuits or claims of landlord misconduct. The landlord or their agent may enter in an emergency however.
Maryland Rent Control:
The following jurisdictions have zones with rent control: Frederick County, College Park, Takoma Park, and Washington County. Always double check with your jurisdiction if you have any doubts about rent restrictions.
Questions About Maryland Rentals Laws? Ask an Attorney!
Have questions about Maryland landlord-tenant laws? We have you covered. Ask in the box below, to have your questions answered by living, flesh-and-blood attorneys!
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Does Montgomery county have any rent control options for adults 65 and older in general apartment buildings?
can I move out of a leased house and leave my sublet person there who refuses to move…
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My moms landlord has been overcharging for the water bill. He never provides the bill. He only tells her verbally what it was. She received a bill in the mail which was addressed to “owner or occupant” so, being the occupant, she opened it to discover it was just over half the amount he had told her. In addition, he owns the property next door and has never gotten a separate hook up for the water. He split the water line to accommodate both properties and says that he splits the bill down the middle, which I’m not sure is legal. My mom is afraid of retaliation including raising of the rent and/or eviction for “starting trouble”. The rental property is in very bad condition and there are no repairs made and she has stopped informing him of the necessary repairs because in the past he said he would fix it, but he would have to raise the rent. I’m just looking for some clarification on renters rights so that I don’t give her bad advice.
What is the percentage that a landlord can increase your rent in Carroll County Maryland?
Hello..I started renting a townhouse in Edgewood Md 3/27/2020. I was just offered a new job in the Washington DC/Arlington VA area. I noticed the property management company to let them know that I needed to terminate my lease because my start date is Aug 3rd. I was advised that my financial responsibility will be $1170 on the move out date and the remaining balance of the lease ($1300 a month) until the property is rented and forfeit my $1500 security deposit. Can someone advise me of my rights as a tenant. In the lease agreement it have if the landlord’s job transfer him 50 miles from the property the lease can be terminated. Shouldn’t that clause apply to the tenant?
Hello,
I owe my landlord a lot of money but I am not eligible for rental assistance, however they refuse to make payment arrangements that is reasonable what do I do? Also I went 2 months 3 days without heat, there was mold in the apartment, I have to wear a mask 95% of the time at home because almost all my neighbors smoke so I cannot breathe because of asthma. Both my son and I have it. They told me that it was a smoke-free building but it is not. My apartment is literally falling apartment. Cracks everywhere, I am afraid that it will collapse and cost everyone their lives because I am in the middle apartment. They are lying and saying that it is just the paint but it is foundational cracks. The building inspector never came to my apartment even though notices always go out. If they did it will surely fail from just the water leaks alone. What do I do?
It sounds like you don’t like your apartment or your landlord, so I’d move somewhere you like better. Probably not the answer you’re looking for, but no one is forcing you to continue living somewhere you don’t like.
My landlord came by and did a very informal inspection. Writing everything down on a vanilla folder, a week later sends me a text message saying I will be charged for 8 discrepancies. Including things she asked me to do for her. Is this allowed?
The landlord can deduct for damage caused by you. If you can document that the damage was there before you moved in, then you have a case that the landlord should not have deducted money from your security deposit.
Hello thank you for all you useful information my question is oh, I have lived in the same location for over 20 years, I haven’t had a leaf since 2007, I’ve been a very good tenant taking care of everything she hasn’t done any repair since I’ve been here she bought a used refrigerator and used stove and that’s the only work she’s ever done in her rental unit oh, but the problem I’m having is that she’s trying to evict me oh, she sent me a letter to vacate which I never got because she sent it Postal Service and since I live in the condo they just put the the pink notice in the mailbox oh, and I don’t check my mailbox every day but now she’s following is a tenant holdover, would that apply to me since I’ve been here for so long and also she didn’t have a rental license oh, so I was unable to get any type of financial assistance in June. And furthermore she’s also fought at the bank by saying that she lives here so she can get a cheaper interest rate. But today she accused me of changing the b g and e appointment, which I did not I have replaced or stayed here by so many things were placed I had to Condo Association place the pipes I had to Condo Association place the screens oh, I’ve done stuff like I said I’ve done so much work and for her to Q’s me of that it seems like she’s trying to retaliate against me. I called Rick Court we had a date and then the attorneys bumped it up. But I am actually going to file to reschedule, because I need to get legal representation and the pro bono said that they would take my case but that was originally for later on and not trying to buy off of the date so please advise and help I’ve been unable to pay rent because I’ve not been working and I work as a consultant and I was unable to get any of that PPP loan or any of that but now some money looks like it’s coming in so I should be able to pay my rent or get caught up in it so please advise again she did not have a rental license, and she forged information on the docket for court because I thought it was legal to file eviction and attorney accepted it oh, I was not properly served thank you all thank you so much for your help
Is there any laws in Maryland that protects people from getting turned down because of their credit? Me and my fiance can’t find a place to live because I have bad credit and she has none. We have first months rent, security deposit, have a job, going to college part time. We need somewhere to live this isn’t fair!!
Credit is a legitimate assessment of risk. I highly recommend working on building your credit history, it will make your financial life much easier. Check out this article: https://sparkrental.com/how-to-build-credit-fast/
Try to get a second chance apartment. Or better yet try renting from a private owner.. they are way more lenient and you can actually talk to the owner instead of the apartment management company
Can a landlord use a Pennsylvania rental lease agreement for a MD property? Also how would I find out if they registered it for the state of MD?
It’s not that landlords “can’t” use a PA lease agreement in Maryland, but it may not offer the landlord the same protections, or feature the same clauses or disclosures that Maryland leases should include.
My tenant left cosmetic damage on a relatively new dishwasher. Not knowing the exact amount to replace the damaged part, I estimated the cost as a percentage of buying a new unit and withheld that amount from the return of the security deposit. Tenant now claims that since I only gave her an estimate and not an “itemized statement of the cost incurred,” within the required 45 days, I legally forfeit the right to withhold any of it. This can’t possibly be right, can it?
Hi – I live in a privet resident that is two levels high. The lower level I turned into a apartment. My question is can I advertise it for
tenants 55+ in Maryland.
Thanks, Mike.