Maryland Tenant Information

Maryland Tenant Information – Renters Rights

 

TENANTS: 

Always pay your rent on me. Remember, rent is due on the 1st of the month (generally rent is due on the 1st of each month, however you are bound by the dates in the lease) and it is late on the 2nd. You can be sued anyme a;er the first. Not paying your rent on me constutes a breach of lease and can result in a negative rental history. In a tight rental market, landlords can be more selective and may use this information as a basis not to renew your lease at its expiration.

► Always request a written receipt for your rent payments and maintain a record of your payments. If you are sued by the landlord, always a.end the court hearing, even if you have paid the rent. Somemes the landlord fails to notify the Court that your rent has been paid and the court could enter a judgment against you if you are not present.

► Try to maintain a good rental payment history. CoreLogic Safe Rent (formerly the Registry) a service used by an increasing number of landlords, specializes in collecting and reporting rental information about tenants. CoreLogic Safe Rent regularly collects information regarding landlord-tenant court filings. This information goes on your record just as poor payment history on credit cards or loan payments are reported to the credit bureaus. This information stays on your record for 7 years. Landlords who use CoreLogic Safe Rent to screen will take this information into account. Having a negative rental history can make it difficult for you to obtain alternative housing in the future.

► Tenants who are renting rooms have the same basic rights as tenants renting apartments or houses. You should get all agreements in writing and obtain receipts for all rent payments.

 

Tenants Defending an Eviction Forms

Download How to answer an eviction forms in each state.

Tenant Defense Forms

 

 

LANDLORDS:

► Screen tenants carefully before signing a lease. CoreLogic Safe Rent provides comprehensive reports regarding an applicant’s credit and rental history. Landlords who are currently licensed by the Department’s Licensing and Registration Unit can receive reports from CoreLogic Safe Rent at a minimal cost.

► Discuss any concerns you have regarding information contained in a prospective tenant’s credit history with the tenant.

► Keep accurate rental records.

► Do not let tenants get too far behind in their rent before you file suit for Failure to Pay Rent. While the court can give a judgment in favor of the landlord for rent and late fees owed, collection of a judgment can be me consuming and costly.

Taking quick acon will reduce your potential exposure for unpaid rent. needs to get a receipt and confirm with the Sheriff’s Office that the land lord has canceled the eviction.

The tenant can be evicted the first me the landlord files an acon for nonpayment of rent against him/her if the tenant does not pay when, or before, the Sheriff arrives to carry out the eviction; 15. If three judgments for unpaid rent have been entered against a tenant in the 12 months prior to the initiation of a Failure to Pay Rent acon, and the tenant has paid the debt and redeemed the property, on the fourth filing, the landlord can request a Judgment Absolute,

With No Right of Redemption. If a Judgment Absolute is entered, payment of overdue rent will not prevent an eviction; 16. If you receive a Warrant of Restitution, you can call the Sheriff at 240- 777-7130 to see if an eviction has been scheduled for your address.

While the sheriff will tell you if an eviction has been scheduled, the Sheriff will NOT tell you the specific date and me.

1. The landlord files the action with the District Court stating the reason he/she is requesting a judgment for repossession of the property ;

2. When filing an action to repossess property, the landlord must certify that the property is currently registered with MDE (if applicable) and give the certificate number;

3. When filing an action to repossess property, the landlord must also certify whether or not the tenant(s) is/are in active military service;

4. When filing an action to repossess property in a Failure to Pay Rent acon, the landlord must provide a current rental facility license number;

5. The District Court schedules a hearing and issues the tenant a summons to appear in court. The summons is forwarded to the Sheriff’s Office for service;

6. The Sheriff mails one copy of the summons to the tenant by first class mail and also attempts to serve the tenant in person. If the tenant is not avail- able to be served, a copy of the summons is posted on the door of the rental property;

7. If the tenant appears in District Court, he/she has the right to offer a defense. At the hearing, the Judge will decide whether the landlord is entitled to the rent and/or possession of the rental property;

8. If the tenant fails to appear, the Court will likely award a default judgment for the landlord to repossess the property. If the landlord or agent fails to appear, the Court will dismiss the acon;

9. If either party disagrees with the Judge’s ruling, they have the right to appeal the judgment to the Circuit Court;. This appeal must be filed with in 10 days a;er a Tenant Holding Over or Breach of Lease judgment and within 4days after a Failure to Pay Rent judgment;

10. If no appeal is filed, or the appeal period expires, the landlord files a Warrant of Restitution, which is signed by the Judge and forwarded to the Sheriff’s Office;

11. Once the Warrant of Restitution is mailed to the tenant and the landlord by the Sheriff’s Office, the landlord contacts the Sheriff to Arrange a date and me for the eviction;

12. Once the eviction is scheduled, the Sheriff may post a red and white notice on the door of the rental property. However, even if such a notice is not posted, the Sheriff will sll proceed with the eviction;

13. While the landlord is responsible for removing the tenant’s possessions from the property and placing them in the closest public right of way, an eviction cannot take place unless the Sheriff is present;

14. If a landlord gets a judgment for repossession against a tenant for Failure to Pay Rent, in most cases, the tenant can prevent an eviction by paying the judgment before the Sheriff executes the eviction order. This payment must be made by cash, certified check or money order to the landlord or his agent (including all court awarded costs, with the exception of court awarded attorney’s fees). The tenant

https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/housing-and-community-development/rental-housing-programs/

 

 

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