New regulations in the Tenant Safety Act of 2024 could significantly impact Maryland landlords. See below how the law simplifies rent escrow actions for tenants, strengthens their rights, and potentially increases landlord’s legal fees.
Previously, individual tenants might have had to file separate petitions. Now, multiple tenants facing similar issues like mold, flooding, or rodent infestations can join as co-plaintiffs in a single Rent Escrow Petition.
Significantly, the changes in the law also place the burden on the landlord to prove that it has not breached the warranty of habitability, as the court will presume that a tenant is entitled to abatement of both past due and prospective rent unless and/or until the landlord convinces the court otherwise.
House Bill 1117 will go into effect on October 1, 2024. This statute commonly known as the “rent escrow statute” will be amended to:
- Allow multiple tenants to join as plaintiffs in a Petition in Action of Rent Escrow (commonly known as a rent escrow action);
- Include a rebuttable presumption that a tenant is entitled to the adjudication of a request for rent abatement;
- Include a rebuttable presumption that a tenant is entitled to an abatement of prospective rent; and
- Allow a court who orders any relief to a tenant in a rent escrow matter to make aclaim for recovery of attorney’s fees, costs and expenses related to litigation.
- These changes will impact all Maryland landlords as of October 1st, 2024
This blog post discusses the Tenant Safety Act of 2024, a recently passed law in Maryland. We strive to present factual information. Laws can be complex and have various perspectives. We recommend seeking professional legal advice if you have specific questions about the Act's implications.
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