Maryland renters
Post Crossover Priorities 2026
End Unfair Debt Practices SB 939/HB1098: Increase the amount of a homeowner’s equity protected from debt collectors. Each passed their chamber of origin and need to be amended to reflect the stronger, Senate amendments before final passage. SB865: Workgroup on the Affordability of Private Passenger Automobile Insurance – Extension and Alteration of Membership and Duties. Passed the Senate, waiting on action in the House. Keep People Housed SB353/HB523: Provide clarity to homeowners facing foreclosure and end zombie mortgage foreclosures. Passed the House, waiting on action in the Senate. SB180/HB213: Expand ability for fair housing organizations to root out discrimination. Passed ...
Tenant Guide: Updated for 2026!
Our popular Tenant Guide has been updated for 2026, and now includes information for victims of domestic violence, the Maryland Consumer Protection Act, and information on Maryland's new mold law. You'll find lots of tips and tricks for finding a rental property, navigating the lease and regulations, how to investigate the landlord, and more. Go here to download any of our landlord-tenant or Fair Housing publications and fact sheets, including our updated Tenant Guide and our Guide to Fair Housing for Maryland Landlords.
Act Now! Protect Debtors, Homeowners, and Tenants This Legislative Session!
Monday, March 23 is crossover day for Maryland’s General Assembly. This means that legislation needs to pass out of one chamber and cross to the opposite chamber by midnight on that date to have a good chance of passing this legislative session. Almost all of the bill hearings are done, so the next few days are crucial. Advocates are racing to ensure priority legislation makes it onto committee voting lists, moves out of committee, and passes on the House or Senate floor. All the while, monied interests are working hard to ensure bills die in committee, are weakened to the ...
Housing Services
Maryland Housing Services We work to ensure Maryland tenants and homeowners are living in safe and healthy housing, free from discrimination, by providing Maryland tenants and landlords with free information about their rights and responsibilities on the following topics: Lease reviews Eviction Notification and Procedure, Illegal Eviction Nonpayment of Rent (Please note: We do not provide financial assistance.) Code Enforcement, including licenses and inspections Substandard or Unsafe Housing, including Denial of Essential Services (heat, water, stove, etc.) Security Deposits Rent Escrow Lead Paint Federal, State, and Local Fair Housing Laws, including Source of Income Discrimination Disability Discrimination Emotional Support ...
Keep People Housed — Take Action to Pass Key Reforms in 2026!
This past weekend marked the halfway point in Maryland’s 90-day legislative session. As we cross that benchmark, another, more critical deadline looms: March 23. This is crossover day, which means a bill has to have passed out of one chamber and crossed over to the opposite chamber to have a good chance to make it across the finish line this session. Several critical housing bills haven’t been voted on, and we need your help to get them on the vote lists and out of committee as the clock ticks down. Take action today! Corporate landlords and property managers are trying ...
Take Action — Stop Rent Price Fixing in Maryland!
We believe that everyone has the right to safe, affordable housing. For far too many renters across Maryland, prices are out of control. One reason: private equity firms are working with landlords to stack the deck against hard-working Maryland tenants. Private equity firms are using technology to fix prices to squeeze every dollar from renters to increase millionaires' profits. Technology is used to collect data on rental prices and each day it recommends a new price for each empty rental unit using private data. This drives up prices and means one renter may pay a lot more for their apartment ...
Take Action to Protect Tenants! Close the HOME Act Loophole!
Housing vouchers and other rental assistance programs are a lifeline for families struggling to pay their rent. In 2020, Maryland passed the Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act, which added Source of Income to the list of protected classes in Maryland. The HOME Act was intended to ensure that landlords do not discriminate against tenants who use these rental assistance programs. Some landlords are exploiting a loophole to the HOME Act and use credit history or income information to refuse to rent to voucher holders. Applying credit and income-based screens to families participating in housing assistance programs is neither relevant nor ...
Maryland Announces Eviction Prevention Funds for Eight Jurisdictions
While we do not provide financial assistance for eviction prevention, we're making sure tenants have up to date information on resources that can help. From the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development: To qualify for assistance from the eviction prevention program, a household must have a student enrolled in a Community School in a participating jurisdiction living in their home. Applicants must demonstrate an obligation to pay rent and experience housing instability, such as homelessness, risk of eviction, utility shut-off, or being behind in paying rent or utilities. Program funds can help eligible families pay for past due rent ...
Maryland Tenant Protections for Furloughed Federal Employees
From the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development In 2019, the Maryland General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 512, which amended §§ 7-105.1 and 8-401 of the Real Property Article. This is the first federal shutdown since SB 512 was enacted. Under the law, an involuntarily furloughed federal government employee at risk of eviction can ask the court to temporarily pause the eviction during the shutdown. Governor Moore sent Maryland Supreme Court Chief Justice Matthew Fader a letter highlighting this new provision to ensure that judges are aware of this protection when making eviction and foreclosure decisions. Federal employees are ...
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 ...