Starting July 1, Maryland renters signing a new lease will also receive an eight-page “Tenants’ Bill of Rights,” a document outlining their legal protections and housing rights. This new requirement stems from the 2024 Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act, a law passed by the General Assembly to address the state’s high eviction rates and expand housing security.
The Bill of Rights includes both new and existing protections for renters. New measures cap security deposits at one month’s rent and give tenants the right to purchase their home before it’s sold in some cases. It also reaffirms rights like limits on rental application fees, requirements for safe and livable housing, and advance notice for evictions. Additionally, evictions may now be delayed due to medical emergencies or extreme weather, such as last week’s heat wave that led to postponed evictions in Baltimore.
A new Office for Tenant and Landlord Affairs within the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development will oversee the document, updating and publishing it annually in 18 languages. The office will also provide renters with access to legal aid, credit counseling, and other resources, while collecting reports on landlord violations…