Landlord

Published on: March 28, 2024

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 provided by a tenant regarding the need for the requested reasonable accommodation for an emotional support and/or service animal, prior to granting such request.

What is a service animal?

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Published on: March 14, 2024

How Do You Get a Baltimore City Rental Property License?

By Kerri Smith and Avery Strachan

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 and Community Development (DHCD)?

The Property must be registered with DHCD.

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Published on: March 6, 2024

How Do I Remove a Squatter from My Property in Maryland?

By Kerri Smith and Avery Strachan

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 legal process.

What is a squatter?

A squatter is person who has taken physical possession of real property that they do not own, and who has not signed a lease or paid rent for the property. If a person refuses to leave the request of the property owner, they are considered a squatter and may be removed through filing a Complaint for Wrongful Detainer in the District Courts of Maryland.

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Published on: July 21, 2023

New Maryland Landlord-Tenant Law Effective June 1, 2023

By Avery Strachan

Pet Protections During Evictions

Pursuant to House Bill 102, effective June 1, 2023, a landlord and law enforcement carrying out an eviction have the following obligations with regard to any action for possession of real property (nonpayment of rent, tenant holding over, breach of lease, or wrongful detainer):

(1) Upon eviction, the unit must be immediately inspected for any pet;

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Published on: July 20, 2023

What Do I Need To Do To File a Failure to Pay Rent Case in Baltimore City

By Avery Strachan

What do I need to do to file a Failure to Pay Rent Case in Baltimore City? Baltimore City landlords must comply with registration, inspection, and licensing requirements before initiating Nonpayment of Rent actions in rent court.

Residential landlords that anticipate the need to file a Failure to Pay Rent Complaint in the coming weeks and/or months should be aware of recent changes to Baltimore City’s licensing scheme which requires housing providers to have a rental unit registered, inspected, and licensed before a landlord is able to utilize rent court to collect unpaid rent.

Residential Landlord Requirements in Baltimore City