Moore-Miller Administration Publishes 2027 Tenants’ Bill of Rights, Highlights Key Landlord and Tenant Laws Taking Effect October 1

Press Release | October 1, 2026

Updated: October 1, 2026

NEW CARROLLTON, MD (October 1, 2026) – The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development today announced it has published the 2027 Tenants’ Bill of Rights, which summarizes key renter rights and protections established by federal and state laws. The 2027 version incorporates updates based on key state legislation going into effect October 1, 2026.

“Renter protections are a critical component of a healthy, equitable housing market for all. The Moore-Miller administration continues to prioritize renter rights and protections to decrease evictions, keep tenants in their homes and stabilize and improve communities,” said Secretary Jake Day. “The 2027 Tenants’ Bill of Rights provides tenants and housing providers with the most current information about their rights under the law to ensure better housing outcomes and

The Tenants’ Bill of Rights is required by the Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act, part of Governor Wes Moore’s 2024 Housing Package to make Maryland more affordable. The Act, which went into effect October 1, 2024, protects Maryland renters who are experiencing housing instability, saves renters money by reducing required security deposits and creates new pathways to homeownership by providing tenants the opportunity to purchase their homes. Since the Act went into effect, the State of Maryland has seen a 14% decrease in eviction filing rates and a 16% decrease in the number of households who are evicted. As a result, more than 5,800 families remained stably housed, preventing displacement and homelessness.

"Two years into the Renters' Rights and Stabilization Act, the results are clear: when tenants know their rights and have the protections they need, families stay housed and communities grow stronger,” said Assistant Secretary of Homelessness Solutions Danielle Meister. “Every eviction we prevent is a family that stays out of homelessness, and that's the work we're committed to continuing.”

The Tenants’ Bill of Rights, which is required to be included with every residential lease in Maryland, is updated annually with changes to federal and state renter laws and based on feedback from tenants and housing partners. Published by the Department’s Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs, the 2027 Tenants’ Bill of Rights has been updated based on changes made by the below state legislation.

Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act (SB937/HB752)
- Creates a process for housing providers to screen a tenant’s criminal history as a precondition for securing housing in Maryland.
- Establishes limits on when housing providers can solicit information about an applicant’s criminal history, when applicants must disclose certain convictions, what criminal convictions may or may not be considered, and when a criminal history can be the basis for denying a housing application.
- Prohibits landlords from requiring prospective tenants to submit to drug or alcohol testing.
Discrimination in Housing for Income-Based Housing Subsidies and Positive Rental History Reporting (SB335/HB315)
- Prohibits housing providers from refusing rent to tenants paying rent with an income-based housing subsidy based on their income, their credit score or lack of a credit score, or any adverse credit history that occurred when the tenant didn’t have the rental subsidy.
- Housing providers can refuse to rent based on other commercially reasonable and nondiscriminatory reasons, such as references from previous housing providers or other lease violations.
- Requires housing providers to give tenants the option to have the tenant’s positive rental payment history reported to consumer reporting agencies.
Residential Rental Apartments – Air-Conditioning Requirement (SB12/HB664)
- Requires certain housing providers to have an air conditioning system capable of cooling a unit to at least 80 degrees between June 1 and September 30 every year. If the housing provider controls the air conditioning, they must cool the unit to at least 80 degrees.
- Applies to apartment buildings with 10+ residential rental units that:
  - Are constructed after June 1, 2026, or
  - Units that came with air conditioning any time after January 1, 2025, or
  - Units where, anytime after January 1, 2025, the lease required the landlord to provide air conditioning, or
  - Any residential rental unit that undergoes a renovation after October 1, 2026 that includes replacing or upgrading the electrical or heating systems.

The Tenants’ Bill of Rights has been optimized for use of plain language, is accessible for individuals using screen readers or other assistive devices, and will be available in 18 languages. Additional resources for landlords implementing these changes, including voluntary model forms, are available on the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs’ webpage. For more detailed information on each of the bills and how they impact housing providers, read the Department’s public notice.

The Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs helps Maryland tenants and landlords understand and navigate their rights and responsibilities under federal and state laws. Since the Office was established in spring 2025, it has received more than 5,000 inquiries from tenants, housing providers, and real estate agents for assistance in navigating common housing issues like disputes between landlords and tenants, housing conditions, and tenant protections as landlords move to sell their homes.

For more information about the Department of Housing and Community Development’s work to advance state legislation and supporting policies that make Maryland a desirable place to live, visit the Department’s website.

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