Legal FAQs for Renters in Maryland

Tell your landlord about any repairs needed, particularly if they affect your health and safety.

If they are urgent you should call your landlord to make the repairs as soon as possible.

Emergency repairs could be for problems with:

• Running water or hot water

• Heat

• Stove, refrigerator, or oven

• Electricity

• Bathroom use

• Missing doors, locks, or windows

• Pests

If your landlord doesn't make the repairs promptly, send them a written letter or email about the need for emergency repairs (and keep a copy of this communication).

Reach out to legal help for additional guidance.

Contact a legal help organization to help defend yourself.

It is illegal in Maryland for your landlord to evict you without first going to court and getting an eviction order. To remove you from your home, a landlord must take you to court by filing an eviction lawsuit, win the case, and getting an eviction order from the court.

Legal aid groups might be able to provide you with full representation, or other legal organizations can give you information or brief advice.

Find legal help to protect your rights.

You may be able to break your lease if you can come to an agreement with your landlord.

You can talk to your landlord to see if they will agree to let you leave early. If they agree, be sure to get the agreement in writing.

Also, you can review your lease. It may have a part that lets you end the lease early in times of financial difficulty. If your lease has this kind of section, you might be able to break the lease (in some cases penalty-free).

Find legal help to get advice for your situation.

Many local Rental Assistance programs are open to everyone, regardless of immigration status. Many programs do not even ask about immigration status.

Check with your local Rental Assistance program to make sure about eligibility rules and immigration.

If you are behind on rent, you can get help from your local Rental Assistance program. This is a government service to help people who owe rent or utility bills.

Especially if you are behind on rent because of COVID-19 hardships, your local Rental Assistance (or Rent Relief) program can help you.

Find your local Rental Assistance program at your Get Help page here.

Local governments set the rules about who is eligible for rent relief. Most programs focus on people who have suffered COVID-19 hardships.

You can talk to your local Rental Assistance program to learn their eligibility rules.

You may have to show your household income, or if you are on other benefits programs like SNAP.

You may also have to show that you are at risk of homelessness or eviction if you don't get rental assistance.

Check with your local Rental Assistance program to see if you are eligible.

Most Rental Assistance programs let landlords apply.

Either a renter or a landlord can start the application.

The landlord will have to fill in as much information they have about the amount of money needed, and the eligibility for the program. The tenant may have to fill in the rest of the information.

Check with your local Rental Assistance program about the steps to follow to apply for rent relief.

Maryland's statewide eviction protections have expired as of August 15, 2021. Maryland renters are no longer protected from eviction.

Earlier Protections Earlier, Maryland's Governor had ordered that there should be no evictions through August 15, 2021, for tenants who can show a COVID-19 financial hardship.

Maryland had also suspended utility shutoffs for nonpayment through the end of the state emergency.

Tenants were also eligible for national protections through August 26, 2021. The emergency protections are now expired.

Since the emergency period in Maryland ended on August 15, 2021, landlords can evict tenants.

If you receive a notice to quit from your landlord, or an eviction lawsuit, reach out for legal help.

Your utilities may be shut off since the emergency period ended.

If you need financial assistance for utility costs, you may be able to get help.

Landlords are never allowed to shut off a renter's utilities in an attempt to force the renter out. This is illegal. Reach out to a lawyer for help if this happens to you.

For renters in Maryland, after August 15, 2021:

1. Your landlord can give you a notice to quit.

2. Your landlord may file an eviction claim in court against you.

3. Courts will hear the eviction case against you.

4. The court may issue a new order, judgment, or writ of eviction against you. Earlier this had been stopped by the emergency protections.

5. Law enforcement will enforce an existing eviction order against you.

Yes, Maryland renters still need to pay rent during the emergency.

Check with your local city or county government to see if they give renters any additional protections if they are struggling to pay rent.

If you cannot pay rent, take steps to protect yourself:

• Communicate with your landlord: Send a written letter or email to your landlord as soon as possible. Explain why you cannot pay the rent because of COVID-19 impact. You can also try to negotiate with your landlord to make a payment plan or get a temporary rent reduction.

• Get written records of all communication: Keep copies of any letter or email you send, and any responses from the landlord. Keep receipts for any payments you make. If you make a payment plan or rent agreement, make sure to get it in writing.

• Keep proof of COVID-19's impact on you: Collect documents about your COVID-19-related employment problems, health care issues, or other issues that affect your ability to pay rent. This includes letters from your employer, doctor, insurance provider, child care provider, schools, etc.

• Check for help: If you need financial assistance for housing costs, you may be able to get help.