Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Secretary Jake Day announced that the State of Maryland has published the first statewide Tenants’ Bill of Rights in the nation. The department’s Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs has published the first version of the Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights (MTBR) as required by the passage of the Renters Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024.
Landlords and tenants can find the Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights document by visiting the DHCD’s website at https://dhcd.maryland.gov/ Tenant-Landlord-Affairs/Pages/Tenants-Bill-of-Rights.aspx. Under state law, landlords must attach a copy of the current Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights to every lease, beginning July 1, 2025.
As defined on DHCD’s website: The Tenants’ Bill of Rights summarizes key renter rights and protections established by federal and state laws. The Tenants’ Bill of Rights is not a complete list of every tenant right. It does not cover every detail, exception, or difference that may apply on a case-by-case basis. A landlord may not edit or modify the Tenants’ Bill of Rights from the Maryland DHCD-published version in any way.
Annually, DHCD will update and release a new Tenants’ Bill of Rights by September 1, with an effective date of October 1. This annual release will include major changes to federal or state renter laws in addition to updates based on feedback from tenants and housing partners.
The Tenants’ Bill of Rights has been optimized for use of plain language and is accessible for individuals using screen readers or other assistive devices. It has also been translated into 18 languages. If you are a housing industry professional that needs technical assistance or have questions regarding the Tenant Bill of Rights requirements, contact otla.dhcd@maryland.gov.
Lauren Bunting is a Broker with Keller Williams Realty of Delmarva in Ocean City, Maryland.
