Maryland tenant rights

What should I do if I get an eviction notice in Maryland?

Treat it as time-sensitive, not as an eviction. A landlord notice in Maryland is usually a step before a court case — not a judgment and not a lockout. If the paper names a court, a case number, or a date to appear, a case has been filed and a response window is running. Write down when and how it arrived, keep the original, and call legal aid the same day if a court is named. How long the notice runs is in Maryland Real Property landlord and tenant title, not in a national chart.

How do security deposits work in Maryland?

Maryland Real Property landlord and tenant title is where Maryland sets whether there is a cap, what may be deducted, and how long a landlord has to return what is left. Those figures change, and reprinting a stale number is how people miss a window. Document the unit at move-in and move-out, return keys the way the lease requires, keep a forwarding address, then read the chapter or take the file to legal aid.

What if my landlord will not make repairs in Maryland?

Most states, including Maryland, expect a landlord to keep a rental fit to live in. The exact process — written notice, a waiting period, repair-and-deduct, escrow, or a code complaint — is a Maryland question, and withholding rent without checking is one of the highest-risk moves a renter can make. Put the request in writing, date it, photograph the condition, and ask legal aid before you skip a payment.

Can my landlord enter without notice in Maryland?

Entry rules in Maryland are in Maryland Real Property landlord and tenant title, and they often differ for emergencies, repairs, and showings. This site does not invent a national hour-count. If an entry felt improper, write down the date, time, who entered, and whether you were told in advance — then confirm the statute or ask legal aid.

Does my city in Maryland add extra renter rules?

Often. Rent stabilization, just-cause eviction, relocation assistance, and extra protected classes are usually local. Maryland state law is the floor, not the whole answer. Check your city housing department or rent board in addition to the sources on this page.

Where is free legal help in Maryland?

LawHelp.org routes Maryland renters to nonprofit legal-aid offices. Dial 211 for local rent, shelter, or utility help in many languages. If you have court papers, call legal aid the same day and ask about walk-in or self-help hours at the courthouse. Those resources are free and are never behind a sign-up on this site.

What is rent court in Maryland?

District Court hears many failure-to-pay and tenant-holding-over cases, often called rent court. Baltimore City is not Baltimore County. Confirm the government of the address. A notice is a step.

Does Maryland add rules on top of the federal Fair Housing Act?

Yes — Maryland and some counties add protected classes and local rental-licensing rules. Baltimore City has its own stack. Confirm with the City or County housing office, not with a DC DHCD rumor.

What we will not guess

Honest routing to official sources — we do not guess at unpublished rules.

Maryland Real Property landlord and tenant title (Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-101 to 8-604) is the chapter to open. We name it. We do not paraphrase a number out of it.

Official sources

Maryland city desks

City ordinances sit on top of Maryland law. Each desk names the local office and the court. We do not invent a local deadline.

• BaltimoreBaltimore City and Baltimore County are different governments. Use the City DHCD stack only if the unit is in the City.

Questions on this desk

• Is a landlord notice the same as being evicted?
• What number should I call right now?
• Is there a national tenant-rights law in the United States?
• What should I do if I get an eviction notice?
• How do I find free legal help as a renter?
• Can my landlord enter without notice?

Common questions