• Home
• Free Legal Information
• Builders & Realtors
• About Us
• Areas of Practice
• Community Service
• Contact Us
• Blog

New Maryland Law - Domestic Violence and Tenants

This free email newsletter provides free legal information you can use in your own life. It is written by the attorneys at Andrews, Bongar, Starkey & Clagett, a full service law firm. Visit our website, SouthernMarylandLaw.com, for free legal information on topics like bankruptcy, personal injury, workers’ compensation, family law, criminal law, and a lot more. If you have a legal issue and need an attorney, feel free to contact us. You may call us anytime toll free from anywhere in Maryland, at 1-888-SMD-LAW1 (763-5291).

Disclaimer: This is general information about Maryland law. It is not legal advice, and there is no attorney-client relationship until you meet with an attorney and sign a retainer. Effective legal advice depends on understanding the unique facts of your situation. If you have a legal question, get advice from a lawyer before proceeding. That is the best advice we can ever give you.

Maryland just enacted a new law to protect victims of domestic violence who rent in Maryland. This law just went into effect October 1. It provides some protections for a renter who has to break a lease to get away from an abuser.

Think about it. If you are a victim of domestic violence, you could be stuck in the middle of a lease and unable to move away from your abusive ex. The abuser will know exactly where you are if they want to come after you. Worse yet, your landlord could refuse to change the locks on your front door, meaning the abusive ex could have full access to your house or apartment.

The new law says a renter can break their lease if they have a protective order and give the landlord 30 days notice. The tenant is only responsible for one month’s rent and any repairs to the premises, which can be deducted from the security deposit. Normally, a tenant cannot use the security deposit for last month’s rent, as the security deposit is supposed to be strictly used to repair damages. Also, the tenant can have the locks changed for safety reasons, if they pay for the work.

Also, landlords cannot evict a renter simply because they are the victim of domestic violence or sexual abuse. Frankly, I have never heard of that happening, but it would not shock me to see some landlords try to do it. Particularly in a large apartment complex, I could see a landlord evicting both the abuser and the victim to try and get rid of a potential violence problem that could affect other tenants.

You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up for it, or you are a client of our firm. We do not spam. If you wish to unsubscribe, please follow the directions below. This content is written by Tucker Clagett, a Partner at Andrews, Bongar, Starkey & Clagett, a full service law firm with offices in Waldorf & Lexington Park. If you have questions or comments or topic suggestions, please feel free to email him directly at Clagett at SouthernMarylandLaw.com. Thank you for reading.

Request Information through our automated email form, but read the rules on this page first.

Sign up for our free newsletter

More legal info & tips to keep you safe.
For examples of past issues, click here.