Maryland leases must include tenants’ rights starting July 1

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Starting on July 1, all residential leases in Maryland must include a new Tenants’ Bill of Rights, according to a press release from the Department of Housing and Community Development.  

Landlords must include the document in all leases as required by the Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024. The bill does not codify new rights but rather requires that tenants are informed of their rights in the body of their lease.  

The department also announced the appointment of Alyce Thompson as the first director of the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs. Prior to her appointment, Thompson worked for 12 years with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  

“Making sure tenants and landlords alike are well informed about their rights and responsibilities under state and federal law will go a long way towards helping families maintain stable housing, in turn strengthening communities across Maryland,” Thompson said in a press release. 

Maryland will be the first state to enact such a policy, though Washington, D.C., passed a similar law in 2014. Maryland’s bill covers many aspects of the rental process, including limits on fees and security deposits, and outlining living condition requirements and the eviction process. 

Secretary of Housing and Community Development Jake Day said the department is working closely with both the Maryland Property Owners Association and the Maryland Association of Realtors to improve landlord and tenant relationships. 

“This doesn’t create new rights, but it ensures equitable access,” Day said. 

The new Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs will update the bill annually based on any changes in federal or state law and feedback from tenants and housing partners. 

The office will also be available to train landlords, real estate agents, property managers, and other industry professionals on requirements for the new policy. 

“While we work to tackle Maryland’s housing shortage, we still need to protect vulnerable tenants in a challenging rental market,” Day said in a statement.