The Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs, created by the Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024, helps Maryland tenants and landlords understand and navigate their rights and responsibilities under federal and state renter laws.
Each year, the office releases a Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights. This document summarizes tenant rights and protections, and must be attached to leases by landlords. We also manage the state regulations and property owner reporting portal required by Maryland’s Right of First Refusal law. The law requires certain rental property owners to provide their tenant the first opportunity to make an offer to purchase the property before the owner can sell to a third party.
The Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs is also responsible for coordinating and staffing the Access to Counsel in Evictions Task Force, analyzing eviction data from the District Court of Maryland, and producing an annual report on evictions.
What We Do
Landlords and Housing Industry Professionals
For landlords, property managers, realtors, and other housing industry professionals, we can:
- Provide education on the Tenant Bill of Rights and Right of First Refusal requirements you must follow under state law
- Provide guidance to property owners on submitting required documentation when they sell a rental property subject to Right of First Refusal law
Tenants
For tenants, we can help you:
- Understand and exercise your rights if you are having a dispute with your landlord or lease that cannot be resolved directly
- Help you report discrimination by your landlord or another violation of federal, state, or local renter laws to the right enforcement agency
- Connect to a legal services agency that can provide legal advice or representation for an eviction case, voucher or subsidy termination, rent escrow case, or other dispute with your landlord or rental unit
- Connect to DHCD and HUD-approved housing counseling programs to improve your credit, start the process of becoming a homeowner, or support you in submitting a purchase offer to buy your rental unit under Right of First Refusal
- Connect to your local housing code enforcement office to report housing quality issues with your unit
Important Note
The Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs cannot:
- Provide legal advice or representation to tenants or landlords
- Mediate disputes between tenants and landlords
- Provide direct housing assistance
If you are a tenant and need legal help, we can refer you to a legal services provider. A full list of legal services providers can be found on the renter resources page linked below.
