Section One: Introduction
The Maryland Rental Guide is intended to serve as a guide for those persons seeking to reside or presently living in rental property. Persons who rent their homes from others form part of a complicated relation between people - that of landlord and tenant. This relationship can be quite confusing to the tenant who lacks knowledge of the mass of legal rules governing landlord/tenant affairs. This guide is designed to help the tenant understand this relationship. The main emphasis of the guide is on tenant and landlord rights and obligations. A tenant who is aware of his/her rights and duties under the law will be more able to act appropriately when faced with a housing problem. In addition to an appraisal of rights and obligations, references are made throughout the text to various organizations and authorities to contact for help with specific problems. Information and suggestions on finding and choosing a home are also provided in the first part of the guide.
Mention must be made of those aspects of rental housing that are not covered by the Maryland Rental Guide. The renting of dormitory rooms on college campuses and residents at many institutions are governed by special rules and regulations and are not included in this guide. The guide also does not encompass all municipal county ordinances and public local laws governing renting. It would be impossible to cover these numerous laws, which vary substantially, in a guide that is meant to be used on a statewide basis. However, in certain instances the Guide will cite specific laws for certain counties of the state as well as for Baltimore City. These citations will contain detailed information applicable only to those jurisdictions and are listed as examples of how county or city ordinances differ form the general state law on a given subject. The Guide highlights the state laws that are of the most general use to tenants; for specific problems in a specific area the tenant should consult the codes directly affecting the area in which a rental facility is located.
Please note that the information contained in this guide is of a general nature and is not a substitute for legal advice. The applicability of law to a particular situation is not always certain and legal advice may still be required. In addition, the general rules explained in this guide may sometimes be waived or altered by contrary provisions in the lease. However, a tenant with basic knowledge of the law is in a better position to prevent or resolve common housing problems.
