What is the Tenant Safety Act of 2024? Pursuant to House Bill 1117, effective October 1, 2024, the statute commonly known as the “rent escrow statute” will be amended to: Allow multiple tenants to join as plaintiffs in a Petition in Action of Rent Escrow (commonly known as a rent…
Articles Posted in Real Estate
What Constitutes Constructive Eviction for Commercial Property in Maryland?
What is constructive eviction? An actual eviction occurs when a commercial landlord brings legal action seeking possession of leased premises from a commercial tenant, is awarded possession in Court, schedules an eviction of the tenant with the sheriff’s office, and the eviction is carried out by the sheriff. A constructive…
Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024: New Maryland Landlord-Tenant Law Effective October 1, 2024
What is the Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024? House Bill 693 made several substantial changes to existing Maryland landlord-tenant law: Nonpayment of Rent Complaints The cost for a landlord to file a Failure to Pay Rent Complaint has increased from $8 to $43 per case (plus an additional…
A Landlord’s Guide to Emotional Support and Service Dogs in Maryland Rental Housing
When are emotional support and/or service animals allowed in rental housing in Maryland? Under Maryland law, landlords are required to allow tenants with disabilities to keep emotional support and/or service dog in the rental unit, with very limited exceptions. Landlords may be able to inquire and request that documentation be…
Plaintiff Drops 3/4 Claims After Firm’s Brief in Renovation Case
Silverman Thompson recently represented a contractor who was hired to renovate a large residential property in Baltimore County. The plaintiff, a subcontractor, filed a lawsuit against the client’s company and the client, individually, alleging that the company and the client individually breached a contract and that our client violated the…
How Do You Get a Baltimore City Rental Property License?
How can you register a rental property in Baltimore City? Effective January 1, 2019, all non-owner-occupied dwelling units, regardless of whether it is a single-family or multi-family dwelling, must be licensed and registered in Baltimore City. What are the steps to receive a rental license from the Department of Housing…
How Do I Remove a Squatter from My Property in Maryland?
How do you remove a squatter in Maryland? When an empty residential unit or vacant buildings become occupied by a person other than an authorized tenant, they are often referred to as a squatter. Squatter law in Maryland does not allow you to remove the unauthorized person without utilizing the…
New Maryland Landlord-Tenant Law Effective October 1, 2023
New Maryland Landlord-Tenant Law Effective October 1, 2023 Rental License Needed for ALL Eviction Cases Pursuant to Senate Bill 100, effective October 1, 2023, if a county or municipality requires a rental license, a landlord MUST have a rental license to file any of the following actions: • Failure to…
Latent Defect Discovery After Home Purchase
What if I purchase a home “as-is” and later discover latent defects that are significant and expensive to repair? Buyers can submit to mediation through Maryland REALTORS® to recover damages associated with latent defects not disclosed at the time of sale. In the State of Maryland, the standard Residential…
New Maryland Landlord-Tenant Law Effective October 1, 2023
Calling Law Enforcement or Emergency Services No Longer Grounds for Termination Pursuant to Senate Bill 214, which takes effect on October 1, 2023, Section 8-208 of the Real Property Article which governs prohibited lease provisions has been amended to prohibit a form of lease that limits the ability of a…