Housing (Tenant Rights)

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 953: Charles County - Rent Stabilization - Seniors

SB 953 requires Charles County to set annual rent increase limits for rental units occupied by seniors (age 62+), based on the Washington metro Consumer Price Index. It establishes a specific "rent increase limit" tied to inflation, preventing landlords from raising rents beyond this threshold each year. The law applies only to Charles County and takes effect October 1, 2026. This directly affects seniors renting in Charles County by limiting annual rent hikes to inflation rates.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingLimits annual rent increases for seniors to CPI, directly protecting tenant rights through rent stabilization in Charles County.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights Tags Seniors

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1571: Real Property - Access to Counsel in Evictions Program and Mobile Home Parks

HB 1571 expands legal aid access for mobile home park residents facing eviction by including them in Maryland's Access to Counsel in Evictions Program. It directly affects low-income mobile home residents (earning ≤50% of median income) and mobile home park owners. Key provisions require park owners to establish pet policies by a set date, ensure safe water access, prohibit fee-based penalties for nonpayment, and provide a 14-day period to cure rent arrears. The bill also prohibits denying park privileges due to nonpayment or resident characteristics, and clarifies eviction procedures for subtenants.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands legal aid for mobile home evictions, prohibits fee-based penalties, and mandates 14-day rent cure period → strengthens tenant protections for low-income housing residents.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1497: Charles County - Rent Stabilization - Seniors

HB 1497 would require Charles County to cap annual rent increases for rental units occupied by seniors at the Washington metropolitan area Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate, effective October 1, 2026. It directly affects seniors (defined as individuals eligible for full Social Security retirement benefits) renting in Charles County. The bill establishes a legal limit preventing landlords from raising rents more than the local inflation rate each year. This applies only to Charles County and does not affect other jurisdictions or non-senior renters.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingCaps rent increases for seniors at CPI, protecting tenants from excessive hikes and strengthening tenant protections in housing policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 7, 2026

HB 774: Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases and Holdover Tenancies - Local Good Cause Termination (Good Cause Eviction)

HB 774 allows counties in Maryland to adopt local laws requiring landlords to have a valid reason (like nonpayment of rent or lease violations) to terminate residential leases or evict tenants who remain after their lease ends ("holdover tenancies"). Landlords in counties with such laws must disclose whether they are subject to these rules in lease agreements and provide specific ownership details (including how many properties they own) if claiming an exemption. The bill also requires the state housing office to create standardized forms for this disclosure and to clarify when landlords must prove "good cause" in court. This directly affects landlords and tenants in counties that implement these local good cause eviction protections.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires landlords to have valid reasons for eviction, protecting tenants from arbitrary displacement - directly strengthens tenant rights in housing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 937: Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act)

SB 937, the Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act, prohibits landlords from requiring or considering a prospective tenant's criminal history before making a rental offer. Landlords may only review criminal history after extending a conditional offer and must allow tenants to provide evidence about inaccuracies, rehabilitation, or mitigating factors. The bill also bans upfront criminal history checks, restricts discriminatory housing ads, and makes violations enforceable under Maryland's consumer protection laws. It directly affects all residential landlords and tenants with past criminal records in Maryland.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits criminal history checks in housing decisions, aligns with criminal justice reform by reducing barriers to housing for individuals with records, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits criminal history discrimination in rentals, protects tenants from bias, aligns with tenant protection and anti-discrimination housing policies95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Tenant Rights

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 3, 2026

HB 1073: Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act)

HB 1073 (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act) prohibits landlords from requiring or using criminal history checks to screen prospective tenants before making a conditional lease offer. Landlords may only consider specific criminal convictions *after* extending a conditional offer and must allow tenants to provide evidence about inaccuracies or rehabilitation. The bill also bans housing ads that discriminate based on criminal records and requires the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs to publish model documents and annual data on criminal history use in leasing. It makes violations subject to penalties under Maryland’s consumer protection laws. The law directly affects residential landlords and prospective tenants in Maryland seeking housing.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits criminal history discrimination in housing, aligns with reform efforts to reduce barriers for reentry and protect civil rights per bill's explicit language.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents criminal record discrimination in tenant screening, protecting tenant rights and promoting fair housing access per bill's prohibitions on pre-offer checks and discriminatory ads.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 872: Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing - Rental Dwelling Unit - Definition

SB 872 amends Maryland law to redefine "rental dwelling unit" for lead risk reduction regulations. It removes the word "[independent]" from the definition, clarifying that a rental dwelling unit includes any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit with permanent living facilities (for sleeping, cooking, sanitation, etc.), regardless of whether it's physically separated. This change directly affects landlords and property managers of rental housing subject to lead safety requirements, as it expands the scope of units covered under existing lead risk reduction laws. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands lead safety regulations to cover more rental units by removing 'independent' from definition, strengthening tenant health protections in housing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 941: Safe and Healthy Homes for All Act

SB 941 requires Maryland's Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), working with the Attorney General, to create a plan identifying rental properties with chronic health and safety violations (like repeated code failures, unsafe conditions, or negligent landlords). The plan must establish methods for reporting such properties (via tenants, local agencies, or tenant groups) and outline specific interventions, including fines, legal actions, tenant escrow accounts, required repair deadlines, and temporary relocation for unsafe units. It mandates DHCD submit this plan and recommendations to the Governor and legislature by August 31, 2027. The bill directly affects tenants living in unsafe housing and landlords operating noncompliant properties.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires DHCD to create plan addressing chronic health/safety violations in rentals via tenant reporting and interventions like fines/repairs, strengthening tenant protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Community Development Landlords Tenant Rights

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 17, 2026

HB 543: Real Property - Landlord and Tenant - Family Child Care Homes

HB 543 allows landlords to charge up to two months' rent as a security deposit if a tenant operates a family child care home (defined as caring for up to eight children in a residence). It prohibits landlords from unreasonably restricting or banning such homes on single-family rental properties and shields landlords from civil liability related to the child care operation. Tenants must provide written notice 60 days before starting, share their child care registration, and supply insurance naming the landlord and property owners as additional insureds. The bill also requires tenants to notify landlords immediately if they stop operating the home and permits landlords to mandate $1 million liability insurance coverage.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits landlords from banning family child care homes, protecting tenant rights in housing use and enabling flexible residential property utilization.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 462: Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases and Holdover Tenancies - Local Good Cause Termination (Good Cause Eviction)

SB 462 allows Maryland counties to adopt local "good cause eviction" laws that prevent landlords from terminating residential leases or evicting tenants without a valid reason (like nonpayment or lease violations). Landlords in counties with such laws must include specific notices in leases about whether good cause rules apply and disclose ownership details if claiming an exception. The state's Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs must create standardized forms for these disclosures and tenant notifications. This bill modifies Maryland's real property laws to implement this framework, but it only applies in counties that choose to adopt the local ordinances.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents arbitrary evictions by requiring good cause for termination, strengthening tenant protections and housing stability per bill's core purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Tenant Rights

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