Renter Rights and Laws

Maryland Renter’s Rights and Stabilization Act Now in Effect

Starting October 1, 2024, renters in Maryland have new protections, which were granted under the Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024. They include:

  1. Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs – The state of Maryland has created this office to provide resources and information to renters and rental property owners. You can access it at Tenant and Landlord Affairs (maryland.gov)
  2. Tenants Bill of Rights Publication – When signing a lease agreement, the landlord will provide this document, which outlines legal rights of tenants under state and federal law. You can also view the Tenant Bill of Rights on the Tenant and Landlord Affairs Office website in 18 different languages.
  3. Security Deposits – Tenants may not be charged more than 1 month’s rent as a security deposit.
  4. Eviction Fees – Court fees for evictions will increase. However, these fees will only be charged against a tenant if the landlord prevails, and the fees will be deducted from the tenant’s security deposit.
  5. Offers to Purchase Your Rental – If the owner of a one-, two-, or three-unit residential rental building wishes to sell that property, a tenant or tenants who have rented that property for at least 6 months will be provided with an opportunity to purchase it. This can occur in three different ways:
    1. Before listing the property for sale, the tenant will have an exclusive negotiation period with the landlord to purchase the property.
    2. If the tenant and landlord do not come to an agreement to purchase the property, but the landlord then accepts an offer from another buyer that is more than 10% lower than what the tenant offered, the tenant may match that offer and purchase the property.
    3. If the landlord receives an unsolicited offer to purchase their rental property, the tenant will be given the opportunity to match that offer and purchase the property.

Additional information on the Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act is available from the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs (maryland.gov) and from the DHCD Turning the Key Newsletter (sign up here).