Q: How long does my property management company have to submit documents per MD. Code, Real Property § 8-212.4?
The documents were never provided at the beginning of the lease. I requested the documents in a written letter on 3 March 2023. I still have not received the documents. I advised in the letter that I would pay my utilities once the documents were received. Another bill is now forthcoming. I intend on paying my rent and withholding the utilities charges again. According to the code, the utility bills are now unenforceable because the documents were not provided. How long should I wait for these documents? Will I have to pay the previous months utilities bills even though they are/have violated the terms of the lease? **The location says Silver Spring however I reside in Hagerstown.**
A:
The code section you reference applies to ratio billing systems (in other words utilities that are not separately metered but instead allocated amongst tenants by the landlord). According to the code, certain information about same must be provided to prospective tenants before a lease starts. So as far as timing goes, a landlord must provide this before the tenant moves in.
While not legal advice I hope that this general information helps.
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