Landlord Tenant Housing Issues in Maryland

District CourT of Maryland, May 25, 2007

The District Court hears the majority of landlord-tenant disputes in Maryland. Issues relating to discrimination and foreclosure are handled by other courts.

Landlord-tenant issues:
When a tenant;
• Fails to pay rent
• Holds over or fails to leave
• Breaches the lease
• Refuses to leave
• How to evict a tenant

Tenant- landlord issues:
What a tenant may do for;
• Serious health and safety issues
• Excessive noise or other major disturbance
• Illegal entry by landlord
• Failure to return security deposit
• Landlord sues tenant

Disputes
Disputes with neighbors may be resolved in a number of ways. Before taking an action, you should consider the consequences of the action.
-- Call the police if you believe a law has been violated.
-- File a complaint.
-- If you are a tenant, you may consider filing a Petition

for Rent Escrow/Injunction (DC/CV83) against landlord. See: Tenant-Landlord.
-- Mediation is less formal, less expensive than going to court and more likely to result in a lasting solution to neighbor disputes.

Housing Discrimination
Federal law prohibits discrimination in the rental, sale, advertising and financing of housing on the basis of your race, color, religion, gender, national origin, family status , i.e. having custody of a child under age 18 or disability. Maryland and many of its local jurisdictions have similar laws.

Enforcement procedures and penalties in the Maryland law are also similar to those in federal law. The Maryland Human Relations Commission is empowered to enforce this law. The commission may help to resolve disputes, conduct investigations, hold hearings, issue orders, award damages and civil penalties and seek the help of the court to enforce its orders.

Foreclosure
A foreclosure is the legal means by which a lender can repossess your home. If you are in default under the terms of a mortgage or deed of trust occurs, the lender has the right to initiate a foreclosure case with the Circuit Court in the county in which the property is located.

There are many procedural steps involved in a foreclosure. If a lender is considering initiating foreclosure, you might consider obtaining advice from a lawyer. The Peoples Law Library provides additional information.