Q: I'm going on two years where I live.. Last year, my rent went up $30. This year, it's going up 120. Is this legal?
I thought they could only raise your rent 5%. Nothing has changed. I've never been late...nothing. A neighbor has been here 5 years and hers never go up more than $30. Is it fair for them to start their experiment on me?
A:
Landlord/tenant law in Maryland is governed both by state law and also by the law of the county/city where the property is located.
Generally speaking, a Landlord is free to set rent at any rate they deem appropriate. That being said, the Landlord must follow the rules of the lease, so checking the lease is very important when trying to figure out if a rent increase is "legal." Additionally, in a few areas of this State (such as Montgomery Co) a Landlord must either offer a 2 year lease term and/or give 90 days notice before raising rent, but this does not apply everywhere in the State.
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