Date: Feb. 1, 2022 | Publication: Sarah Y. Kim, WYPR | LINK
Excerpt
Sen. Shelly Hettleman, a Baltimore County Democrat, is sponsoring two of the bills in this year’s housing package, one of which would require landlords to show proof of a valid rental license if they want to do fast-track eviction procedures.
“We want to make sure that landlords are fulfilling their obligations in terms of providing safe and secure housing, and shouldn’t be able to use a workaround to be able to evict people if they’re not upholding the law on their end,” Hettleman said.
Hettleman’s other bill would empower Maryland courts to pause evictions for renters awaiting emergency rental assistance.
[Lisa] Sarro said ACDS has helped prevent evictions for more than 1,600 households since March of 2021, using $20 million in emergency rental assistance funds. But that money does not always go out as quickly as renters would need it.
“It is really hard work getting that money out the door. And we are not the only county that is struggling,” Sarro said.
Del. Jheanelle Wilkins, a Montgomery County Democrat, is sponsoring a bill that would require landlords to provide “just cause” if they decide to refuse a lease renewal to a tenant.
Renter advocates have argued that such legislation would close a loophole landlords have used to evict tenants behind on rent.
“It’s absolutely critical that we ensure that renter protections are passed this year,” Wilkins said.
Another bill would give renters access to rental assistance programs, legal representation and other resources on the day of a trial.