Maryland’s New Tenant Protection Laws – A Big Win for Renters

If you’re a renter in Maryland, important laws are in place to protect your rights. The Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act (HB 693) brings stronger safeguards, leveling the playing field between tenants and landlords. These protections cover key areas like rental agreements, security deposits, evictions, rent complaints, tenant resources and more, all aimed at promoting fairness in housing practices.

Here’s what you need to know: 

• Lower Security Deposits – Landlords can now only charge one (not two) month’s rent as a security deposit. Plus, landlords can’t keep your deposit just because you broke the lease – unless they can prove actual damages to the unit or if the law specifically permits it.

• Higher Eviction Filing Fees for Landlords – Landlords are now required to pay higher fees to file nonpayment of rent cases. The fee jumped from $8 to $43 per case statewide, with an extra $10 in Baltimore City. For civil eviction cases, the surcharge rose from $18 to $28 per case. Landlords can only pass these costs to tenants if the landlords win in court and the lease agreement allows it. Even then, the amount charged cannot exceed the tenant’s security deposit.

• More Time Before Eviction – If a landlord wins an eviction case, they now must wait seven days instead of four before executing the eviction, giving tenants more time to vacate the premises and find alternate housing.

• Right of First Refusal – If you rent in a small residential property of three or fewer units and your landlord decides to sell, you get the first chance to buy the property before it hits the market. Landlords must notify tenants in writing about this right. However, it does not apply to properties with four or more units, transfers to business entities, family transfers or certain other specified exceptions.

• Stronger Rent Escrow Protections – Rent escrow rules were updated. Tenants can now band together to take legal action against landlords who fail to maintain safe, livable conditions. Tenants are entitled to a hearing for rent abatement requests and can seek rent reductions if the landlord failed to meet their obligations. Courts can also award legal fees and other relief to tenants, including the recovery of attorney’s fees, costs and expenses.

• New Tenant and Landlord Affairs Office – Maryland established a new Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs within the Department of Housing and Community Development. This dedicated office publishes an annual Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights, helping renters understand their legal protections, report violations, access financial counseling and address housing discrimination. Landlords must provide this document when tenants sign a lease.

These new laws are a major win for tenants across Maryland – giving you more rights, more protections and more resources to ensure fair treatment. 

Stay informed, know your rights and don’t hesitate to take action if your landlord isn’t playing fair.

Courtland Merkel is a staff attorney at Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service.