Tenant Rights In Maryland

Summary

In Maryland, landlords must maintain properties to certain standards. Tenants can withhold rent, use repair and deduct, or report issues to local health or building departments. Adding charges not agreed upon in the original lease may be illegal. Consulting a local attorney is advisable.

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A new management company name Ernest Equties purchased the complex I live in, in March *. When they first came in I randomly received a letter from them stating I’m being kicked out due to not having a lease. I showed my proof of my signed lease from previous ownership that was still active at the time. They left me alone after that. Then, the maintenance crew they hired created more problems in my unit, they made a entry for mice, they gave me a oven that didn’t have temperatures on it and it doesn’t fully cook my food. Massive cockroaches are getting into my unit, my doors are all old and messed up. Also, the new furniture I bought when I first moved in now has mold on it. I wrote a complaint about the horrible conditions and how maintenance is rude and don’t really want to help. I’ve also sent them pictures of my apartment and they never responded to me. These people even added extra charges in the middle of my lease that we never had to pay before like a parking fee and set utility bill. I never signed or agreed to pay these extra charges. In Jan * my lease ended and I realized they haven’t sent me anything to renew my lease like I normally received from previous ownership. I’ve just been paying my rent that they send me on my online portal as usual and I’ve always been on time. Now all of a sudden at the end of April I receive several letters saying they’re kicking me out of my apartment and they’ve terminated my lease I have 60 days to vacate the premises. I’m pissed because now I have to move my * children and figure out somewhere for us to go so I can’t afford to pay them rent now and they never addressed any of my concerns. Yesterday I received a delinquent notice which I already expected but in the letter it states things that aren’t true. They said I’ve signed a lease with Ernst Equities in * and agreed to pay a parking fee and the utilities fee which I did not. Ernest Equities bought the property March *. The last lease I signed was with RIMSI Corp and they did not have all these extra fees. Ernst Equities never gave me a new lease after my previous one expired in the beginning of this year.
I'm sorry to hear about your situation, Keila. Could you please tell me where you're located? The laws regarding tenant rights vary significantly from place to place.
Hyattsville, Maryland *
I'm sorry to hear about your situation, Keila. In Maryland, landlords must maintain the property to certain standards. If they fail to do so, you may have rights as a tenant, such as:
- The right to withhold rent.
- The right to "repair and deduct".
- The right to report the issues to local health or building departments.
Furthermore, adding charges not agreed upon in the original lease could be seen as illegal. It would be beneficial for you to consult with a local attorney.