Maryland Tenant Advocacy and Maryland Renters Rights
New Maryland Tenant Law – Rental Late Fees
Starting October 1, Maryland renters who are being charged late fees can only be charged the 5% late fee on the actual portion of rent that's overdue. Example: If your rent is $1500 per month, but you made a partial payment of $500 before the due date, you can only be charged a late fee on the remaining $1000. For tenants who pay their rent weekly, the late fees are limited to $3 per week, not to exceed $12 per month. Any lease clauses that that include penalties that exceed these limits will not be able to be enforced. Landlords ...
New Maryland Tenant Law – Warrant for Repossession
A new Maryland tenant law goes into effect October 1 that tenants should be aware of. Real Property - Landlord and Tenant - Procedures for Failure to Pay Rent, Breach of Lease, and Tenant Holding Over requires a landlord to provide certain notice to a tenant when a court has issued a warrant of restitution for a failure of a tenant to pay rent, a breach of lease, or a tenant holding over under certain circumstances; and establishes certain procedures and requirements for the execution of a warrant for repossession. You can read the full text of the law here. ...
Great News for Heather Hill Tenants!
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has entered into a Final Order by Consent with Heather Hill Property Company LLC and Heather Hill Operating Company LLC (collectively Heather Hill) for alleged violations of the Consumer Protection Act and the Consumer Debt Collection Act in their operation of a large apartment complex in Temple Hills, Maryland. The Consumer Protection Division’s Final Order requires Heather Hill to provide restitution in the amount of an estimated $11.2 million. This settlement is the largest amount of restitution obtained by the Consumer Protection Division in a landlord/tenant case. “This ...
Eviction Prevention Assistance for Baltimore Renters
Please note: We do not provide financial assistance. This post details some programs that may be available to you if you're in need of money to stop an eviction. There are several ways for Baltimore renters who are facing eviction to obtain help. The Eviction Assistance Program is currently accepting new applications. Funding is limited, so please apply as soon as possible. You will need to make an appointment by calling 443-423-6400 to get help with the application process and to see if you qualify for other benefits. If you only need financial assistance to pay your back rent, you will ...
Maryland Homeowners and Renters Tax Credit Deadline
The deadline to apply for the Maryland Homeowners’ and Renters’ Tax Credit Programs is October first! These programs, offered by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), provide financial relief to eligible households based on income and property value. With rising costs for utilities, housing, groceries, and other basic expenses—exacerbated by recent federal policy changes that may limit support programs—these tax credits are more important than ever. They provide critical relief for Maryland families, especially older adults, renters, and low- to moderate-income households, by helping to offset monthly utility bills, reduce housing costs, and stretch household budgets. For many, ...
Our Impact
Click on the links below to see the impact our direct service work has made across Maryland. Our 2023 impact by county and legislative district Our 2024 impact by county and legislative district
Our 2024 Impact by County and Legislative District
Our Impact - County By County Click on your county to see how many people we have served in each legislative district in 2024.
Maryland Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Tenants Using Housing Vouchers
Earlier this year, the Maryland Attorney General asked the Maryland Supreme Court to protect housing voucher recipients from income-based discrimination, via an amicus brief filed in March. In July of this year, the Maryland Supreme Court issued a judgement in favor of the tenant. The case began when a tenant named Katrina Hare tried to obtain housing in a Baltimore County apartment complex owned by David S. Brown Enterprises. The company implemented an income requirement, and did not use the accepted income calculations that take into account the client's voucher amount. As a result, Ms. Hare was denied housing because ...
Maryland Commission on Civil Rights Publishes Source of Income Guidance
This information is important for both landlords and tenants. The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights has published Source of Income Guidance, which outlines the rules around what landlords can and cannot do, with regard to tenants who use Housing Choice Vouchers and other sources of non-traditional income. From MCCR: The purpose of this guidance1 is to provide information on how the State of Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (“Commission”) analyzes source of income discrimination in housing as a result of the enactment of the Housing Opportunities Made Equal (“HOME”) Act of 2020. The guidance aims to inform tenants, housing providers, ...
Maryland Management Emergency Rental Assistance Conciliation Agreement
According to the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, Maryland Management, Inc. refused to participate in or cooperate with emergency rental assistance programs. If you were denied housing or evicted because of this practice, you may be eligible to receive a money settlement from a Restitution Fund negotiated by the Maryland Attorney General to resolve allegations of Source of Income Discrimination by Maryland Management Company, Inc. This agreement can be downloaded here. The amount of compensation you are eligible for will depend on your experience with Maryland Management Company, Inc., and other applications to the Restitution Fund. To receive any ...