News & Updates
Despite Senate’s Failure to Move Good Cause Eviction, Renters Celebrate Major Housing Justice Victories
The 2024 General Assembly closed with the passage of critical bills that advance housing justice: The Tenant Safety Act, HB 1117/SB 946, will empower tenants to hold negligent landlords accountable to fix conditions that threaten the life, health, or safety of their families. The act will allow tenants in the same building to join together in a suit; set the expectation that the Court will reduce the rent if the landlord is negligent, and level the playing field with landlords by providing greater access to legal counsel for renters.
Housing Justice 2023: Press Kit
Find everything you need to know about Renters United Maryland’s legislative priorities for the 2023 Maryland General Assembly session.
2023 Legislative Priorities
As the Maryland General Assembly begins its 2023 session, 108,000 Maryland households are behind on rent amid rent gouging and economic uncertainty. Renters United is working with legislators and a new governor on 4 priorities for Maryland renters. ASSISTANCE Sustain emergency rental assistance STABILITY Enable local “just cause” eviction protection SAFETY Create a legal tool for tenants to win repairs together… Read More »2023 Legislative Priorities
Shelterforce: Tenant Protections Take a Step Forward in Maryland
Fast-forward one year, and the 2022 legislative session outcome was considerably brighter. RUM again advocated for numerous bills, and this time legislators passed almost all of them—including one that allotted funding for the Access to Counsel in Evictions Program, for which advocates can finally savor their victory.
Governor Hogan vetoes housing and neighborhood stability bills
Tens of thousands of Marylanders and their families are struggling to pay the rent and avoid eviction in the wake of COVID-19. Others are dealing with landlords who refuse to make repairs yet demand higher and higher rents. Governor Hogan, however, turned his back on these families by vetoing SB 384, which would have temporarily paused the eviction process if a tenant had a rental assistance application pending, and SB 563, which would have stopped illegally operating landlord’s from using the court’s eviction process to turn a profit.
Recap: Housing Justice 2022
The legislative session ended last night, and we were on the edge of our seats until about five minutes to midnight. Here’s the rundown of everything Renters United Maryland worked on – not just our 5 priority bills (3 of which passed) but also the many bills that RUM members supported throughout session with testimony, Zoom… Read More »Recap: Housing Justice 2022
Maryland Matters: Opinion: Hogan Urged to Sign Bill That Will Help Some Tenants Facing Eviction
Sen. Shelly Hettleman and Del. Vaughn Stewart introduced HB674/SB384 in this year’s Maryland General Assembly. The Senate bill passed in both chambers and now goes to the desk of the governor.
GGW: Opinion: These Maryland bills would help protect renters and prevent displacement
As Maryland’s General Assembly enters its final 30 days in session for 2022, more than two dozen bills have been proposed that would help renter households. Some of these bills mirror recommendations from the American Bar Association’s recent call for reform of residential eviction procedures.