Program Work
Use this form to contact us if you're a member of the media, have a general question about our organization and the services we provide, or if you just want to say hello. If you need assistance with a Fair Housing or tenant-landlord matter, please use the Landlord-Tenant or Fair Housing buttons above!
Housing News
Breaking Your Lease
We get a lot of questions from tenants about breaking their leases for various reasons. In Maryland, there are very few reasons why a tenant can break their lease without penalty, since a lease is a binding legal contract between both parties, and cannot be easily changed without the consent of the other party. Some Read more about Breaking Your Lease[…]
Maryland Attorney General and Westminster Management Settlement Agreement
The Maryland Attorney General and Westminster Management have reached a settlement agreement that requires Westminster to return excessive application fees; improper agent fees, writ fees, and court costs charged in summary ejectment actions; small credit balances that were improperly retained by the company; and security deposit interest that was not paid to vacating tenants. The Read more about Maryland Attorney General and Westminster Management Settlement Agreement[…]
Did You Know? Maryland is a “Pay-and-Stay” State
Maryland is one of the few states nationwide that gives tenants the right to pay all of the money owed after an eviction has been filed, and stay in the home — even right up to the time the sheriff or constable shows up to carry out the eviction. The landlord is required to accept Read more about Did You Know? Maryland is a “Pay-and-Stay” State[…]
Maryland OPC Resource Guides for Assistance with Utility Bills
The Maryland Office of People’s Counsel (OPC) represents Maryland residential customers before the Public Service Commission and federal agencies, and provides assistance with utility issues, including affordable and reliable service. They also assist with complaints regarding utility service providers. For information on how to file a complaint, how to request assistance with your Maryland utility Read more about Maryland OPC Resource Guides for Assistance with Utility Bills[…]
Maryland Counties With Rental Registration/Licensing Requirements
We get a lot of questions from both landlords and tenants about rental licensing and/or registration. The jurisdictions below are where most of our registration and licensing questions originate from. This list is by no means complete — please do your research if you’re a landlord or tenant, and contact your local planning, zoning, or Read more about Maryland Counties With Rental Registration/Licensing Requirements[…]
Maryland Water and Property Tax Payments Search by County
Note: Not all counties have online access to property tax and water bills. If a county is not listed below, the information is not available online. Allegany County: Property Taxes Water Billing Anne Arundel County: Property Taxes Water Billing Baltimore City: Property Taxes Water Billing Baltimore County: Property Taxes Water Billing (Baltimore County residents pay Read more about Maryland Water and Property Tax Payments Search by County[…]
Maryland Code Enforcement Agencies by County
Allegany County Office of Code Compliance Anne Arundel County Code Compliance Division Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development Baltimore County Code Enforcement Calvert County Code Enforcement Caroline County Planning and Codes Carroll County Current Building Codes Cecil County Permits and Inspections Division Charles County Codes, Ordinances, and Regulatory Documents Dorchester County Planning and Read more about Maryland Code Enforcement Agencies by County[…]
New Tenant-Focused Maryland Laws
(Links open a PDF version of the bill text). HB 932/ SB 592: This emergency bill goes into effect immediately and affects renters with failure to pay rent judgments entered against them. While renters can generally stay in their homes if they pay off rent owed plus late fees, this law clarifies that this right Read more about New Tenant-Focused Maryland Laws[…]
New Maryland Laws!
Maryland’s new laws went into effect October 1. Here are some important laws that will affect tenants and landlords: LANDLORD–TENANT – NONRENEWAL OF LEASE – NOTICE REQUIREMENTS Altering the period of time prior to the expiration of a tenancy that a landlord is required to notify a tenant, in writing, of the intent to terminate Read more about New Maryland Laws![…]
Baltimore City Lease Renewal Law
As of July 20, 2021, a new Baltimore City lease renewal law went into effect, where a landlord must renew a tenant’s lease unless a “good cause” exists to terminate the landlord-tenant relationship. The new law is the result of a loophole in the eviction ‘moratorium’ that allowed landlords to decline lease renewals for existing Read more about Baltimore City Lease Renewal Law[…]