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Maryland Landlord - Tenant Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: I am trying to break my year rental lease in Maryland because I’m not happy with my roommates, the landlord’s children.

I’m leasing from a couple who own a townhouse that their daughters are living in. The daughters and sisters are not on speaking terms and I feel very uncomfortable in the house. I’m looking for options on how to break the lease and they did say that they would be willing to end it if they found... View More

Leonard A Englander
Leonard A Englander
answered on Aug 31, 2022

Unfortunately, nothing your describing would give you cause to break your lease. You will have to negotiate with the Landlord and see what accommodations can be reached.

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: What does KEYPOINTS 304-311 RECALLED 325-351mean?

It is a comment on a TNHO case the court date was 8/25/2022 were a possession judgement was entered in favor of the plaintiff. There was a stay of execution until 9/25/2022 as well. But I don’t know what that key point recalled means?

Scott Scherr
Scott Scherr
answered on Aug 30, 2022

A keypoint refers to a place on the recording where the trial begins. You would need to contact the Clerk's office to see what it means when it says "keypoint recalled." Unfortunately, there is no way to know from the entry.

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: I have mold and have acquired health issues from the exposure. It was over a month before the mold was addressed.

How can my landlord be accountable? In Frederick, Maryland

Shaneka Johnson
Shaneka Johnson
answered on Aug 23, 2022

Mold can be tricky. You may be able to sustain a case based on negligence and breach of contract, if you have a mold test (indoor air quality & core sample test) that shows elevated mold levels in the home and can prove the mold caused you physical harm and/or property damage.

This...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: Hi. what should I do for a tenant holding over?

I gave one month notice to a tenant in January and he is still not leaving and he has not been paying the rent since then

Leonard A Englander
Leonard A Englander
answered on Aug 11, 2022

Is this tenancy taking place in MD? I only ask because there seems to be some indication that it might be from DC.

If MD, then you should know that MD law changed in October 2021. From that point on, if you wish to make a tenant leave due to a holdover, you have to give 60 days notice to...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: I am being harassed by my landlord. Its been for about 2 months. What do I do?

I live in howard county Maryland

Leonard A Englander
Leonard A Englander
answered on Aug 11, 2022

In which ways are you being harassed? There are quite a few things the landlord can do that would be considered extremely annoying, but would legally be nonactionable.

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: Can the landlord charge the full amount of carpet replacement if we lived there for 15 months?

When we first moved in, the carpet was old but acceptable. During this 15 months, normal stains were presented when we returned the property. The realtor replaced the whole carpet and deducted the full amount from our deposit arguing that we stained the “fine” carpet. I can guarantee that the... View More

Leonard A Englander
Leonard A Englander
answered on Aug 10, 2022

This type of situation is governed by Maryland real property article 8-203.

It specifies that the landlord can withhold the security deposit for damages that are above ordinary wear and tear.

You certainly could make the argument that you did not cause those damages, that the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: Can I evict this person without a lease? She is staying in a room in my home.
Leonard A Englander
Leonard A Englander
answered on Aug 8, 2022

Theoretically, you can, but you would need to go through the Court system. Was there an agreement that she would pay rent or something similar? If yes, then she would be considered a tenant and you would need to give her written notice to vacate.

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: How to remove person from home that refuses to leave because they were given me some money to stay?

No rental agreement because person was staying 2 mos; pandemic lasted 2 yrs - Notice to vacate given but refuses to leave.

Leonard A Englander
Leonard A Englander
answered on Aug 8, 2022

Assuming this is in the state of MD, you are dealing with a holdover situation. A written lease agreement isn't required for a rental agreement, it's just a good idea. If you were accepting money from this person in exchange for a place to stay, the person becomes a Tenant.

In MD,...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: I had my vehicle in the shop for two weeks. I picked it up and drove it to my housing complex.

Although i had a bonafide parking pass hanging from my inside rearview mirror, i did not realize that the shop had hung one of their number cards on the mirror and was about 85 percent blocking my pass. My complex has only about 30 apts. half of the residents do not own a car. My landlord is very... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jul 29, 2022

Typically, tow companies have a contract with the lot owner and simply drive through the lot on their own, looking for unpermitted vehicles, and tow without need to obtain specific authorization. You can sue the tow company for negligence in failing to see the parking pass, but you admit the... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Contracts and Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: If a person is on a apartment rental lease and is listed as just an occupant, do they have any financial responsibility
Leonard A Englander
Leonard A Englander
answered on Jul 14, 2022

Absent unusual circumstances (ie. an agreement stipulating to responsibility or a guarantor or the occupant doing damage to the premises), the answer is no. The named tenant(s) are the responsible parties. Authorized occupants merely have the right to reside. As a result, they don't have... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: Landlord refuses to return deposit

I have pictures of the poor state of some of the items she claims I damaged when I first moved in.

Shaneka Johnson
Shaneka Johnson
answered on Jun 12, 2022

Have you provided your landlord a forwarding address to return your security deposit? Depending on the circumstances of your move out, you may need to fulfil certain requirements in order to be successful with a lawsuit.

This reply does not constitute legal advice.

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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: My lease ended. I wanted to know if they could just come one day randomly and get me out or will I need to get a notice

I’m backed up on rent a bit and needed alittle more time to find a place

Leonard A Englander
Leonard A Englander
answered on May 16, 2022

You are on a month-to-month lease as of this time (automatically reverts to month-to-month if not renewed). So, the Landlord (LL) is free to give you notice. However, it's illegal to simply boot your stuff to the curb (not that it doesn't happen, just that it's relatively rare... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Environmental and Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: Our tenant is requesting environmental testing of the house he is renting from us. He said he started getting sick.

We just received the below email: This email is to inform you of some serious and ongoing health issues I have been having since approximately October. After numerous appointments and extensive testing, as of last week, my doctor has concluded that there may be something in the house that could be... View More

Leonard A Englander
Leonard A Englander
answered on Apr 5, 2022

As a CYA measure, I would seriously consider getting some form of testing out there. They may be blowing smoke, but if there is a real issue out there, you are going to want to know about it and get it checked ASAP. If you don't, you could be accused of being negligent and that is the point... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: How much notice do I need to give a former tenant to remove personal items in Maryland?
Leonard A Englander
Leonard A Englander
answered on Apr 5, 2022

That would depend. Did you evict the tenant through the Courts? If yes, then you don't have any notice requirements. I would be wondering how it came to be that the Tenant left but their stuff is still there. I suggest contacting an attorney to discuss the particulars.

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: Hi, The realtor wants to stage my rental moving my things. He said they would be here 6 hours.

I understand showings are in the lease however I don’t see staging, I’m uncomfortable having my belongings moved. I’m afraid he will retaliate if I say no. He’s a salesman after all and his interest is the owner not inconveniencing me. He’s coming today to look at the rental. Oh, the... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Apr 1, 2022

He has no right to move your furniture around to stage a showing.

2 Answers | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: I filed a complaint with the county building inspector and my landlord served me a 90 day notice to vacate.

We signed our lease November 13, 2019 and have been on a year to year lease since. My landlord served us a notice to vacate by April 30th. I have four children, three in school and I need to know of what he is doing is legal?

Leonard A Englander
Leonard A Englander
answered on Mar 29, 2022

It depends. Based on what your describing, you might have grounds to claim retaliation. However, the Landlord might be able to counter and provide a reasonable alternative explanation. In short, you should contact an attorney, as retaliation defenses are tricky.

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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant and Real Estate Law for Maryland on
Q: Can I be evicted from my commercial space without a lease in place? How much time am I entitled to have to move out?

I own a salon and never had a written lease and the building has been sold and the new owner and I can't agree on terms for a lease and he told me I need to move out by Sunday March 27, 2022. What are my legal rights and how much time do I have to move out?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Mar 25, 2022

You have few protections in a commercial lease dispute--it is not like residential landlord-tenant law. You admit you have no lease, so I assume you had some sort or oral lease arrangement with the previous owner of the building. The argument would be you were on a month-t0-month lease of your... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: I am going to court on Friday to collect my judgement in a tenant case along w/damages post judgement. In Baltimore

Besides before and after pictures, a list of my charges, the lease, communication back and forth with the tenant, is there anything else I need to bring. In addition, since I won the eviction case do I need to have legal representation or will the judge just honor the judgement.

Leonard A Englander
Leonard A Englander
answered on Mar 23, 2022

You should bring any and all documents that support your claim. Often, that is a copy of the lease, a ledger, photos of any claimed damages, invoices/estimates of the damages and any other ancillary proof that you happen to have.

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: How do you remove a tenant from your home in Oxon Hill Maryland

I have a Durable POA on my brother who recently allowed a woman to rent out his extra bedroom. The woman was to leave in December 2021 and now he cannot get her to vacate his residence.

Leonard A Englander
Leonard A Englander
answered on Mar 18, 2022

You and/or your brother will need to give her 60 days notice to vacate (make it effective the first of the month {ie April 1st, 2022}. If she doesn't leave, then you would have to file a tenant holding over action with the Courts.

Alternatively, if she hasn't paid rent and if you...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: We received a court summons for failure to pay rent. We do not owe money and never missed a payment. What do we do?

The office already acknowledged this and signed off on it. We received another summons and I contacted the office and they again said we do not owe. We are confused.

Leonard A Englander
Leonard A Englander
answered on Mar 11, 2022

This happens fairly frequently actually, especially these days. Odds are good that it's from a Failure to Pay Rent that was filed quite a while ago which you have since paid.

I would reach out to the Landlord and get them to give you some written assurance that the case is going to be...
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