Property Management: SB 335/HB 315 Discrimination in Housing - Income-Based Housing Subsidies– Effective 10/1/26

Prohibits landlords who use financial screening as part of a rental application from refusing to rent based on adverse credit score or credit history when that tenant uses income-based housing subsidies.

Landlords may verify a tenant’s ability to pay their share of rent not covered by the subsidy and may use references or tenant’s past rental history as reasons to refuse to rent. Landlords with six or more rental units must provide tenants with the option to report positive payment history to a consumer reporting agency.

SB 937 Tenant Criminal History Records (MD Fair Chance Housing Act)– Effective 10/1/26

Prohibits a landlord of five or more residential rental units from requiring drug or alcohol tests or access to substance use treatment records from applicants.

If a landlord conducts a criminal history records check, the landlord must do so for every prospective tenant and provide upfront written notice explaining how criminal history will be used. Before making a conditional offer, landlords generally cannot ask about criminal history, with limited exceptions for certain serious and felony offenses.

After a conditional offer, landlords may conduct a background check and can withdraw the offer only for a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason, with written explanation.

Applicants must be allowed to challenge inaccuracies and provide evidence of rehabilitation or mitigating factors, which landlords must consider.

SB 12 Residential Rental Apartments - Air-Conditioning Requirement– Effective 10/1/26

Landlords of apartment buildings with 10 or more units must provide air conditioning capable of maintaining 80°F or lower from June 1 to Sept. 30.

This applies to existing buildings that undergo complete or substantial renovation of electrical systems after the effective date, but excludes properties on the National Historic Registry or work permitted before June 1, 2026.

SB 729 Access to Counsel in Evictions Program - Expansion – Effective 10/1/26

Expands the Access to Counsel in Evictions Program to cover legal representation and other services to individuals who occupy premises of a mobile home park.

SB 941/HB 1218 Severe Risk Properties - Safe and Healthy Homes for All Act – Effective 7/1/26

Requires the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs, with the Attorney General, to create a plan to identify and address large rental properties of 50+ units that consistently fail health and safety standards. The plan must include strategies to expand oversight and address noncompliant landlords.

Short-Term Rentals: SB 624/HB 1221 Short-term Rental Units – Fire Safety PASSED – Effective 10/1/26

Short-term rental hosts must post evacuation plans and emergency numbers, and provide a fire extinguisher and working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Alarms must meet fire code, be interconnected (or approved alternatives), function properly, and be replaced if faulty or over 10 years old. By July 1, 2028, local jurisdictions must require annual inspections of short-term rentals to ensure compliance, and owners must show proof of compliance to booking platforms.