For Immediate Distribution: 12 January 2023

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The state’s flagship housing justice coalition Renters United Maryland kicks off the 2023 Maryland Legislative Session with an urgent press conference announcing its top priorities. Aimed at protecting the rights of tenants, many of whom have faced rising rents and increased evictions during the ongoing pandemic and resulting economic instability, the coalition is joining its bill sponsors in launching its 2023 advocacy campaign. Renters United MD hopes that the new General Assembly and Gubernatorial Administration will join them in making the following four issues their top rental housing priorities. 

1) Emergency Rental Assistance – to invest $175 million to sustain emergency rental assistance and prevent evictions in Maryland. Federal funds will run out in many counties next month. In a December 13, 2022 letter, five County Executives and 50+ organizations asked the Governor and General Assembly for these funds to assist 17,000 families: “The termination of the state’s rental assistance programs comes at a time when Maryland families are facing record rent increases and continued economic instability and will most certainly lead to a spike in the number of families – predominantly Black and Latine – experiencing eviction and homelessness.” 

Langley Park resident Ruby Salazar said, “I was lucky enough to receive emergency rental assistance from the county to help me stay housed during the pandemic. Unfortunately, many of my neighbors, who through no fault of their own have fallen into rental debt, are unable to get the help they need because the funding has run out. They are on the verge of eviction and living with that stress daily.”

2) Local Enabling Legislation for Just Cause Eviction – to enable local jurisdictions to pass laws requiring landlords to have a good reason to not renew a lease. Landlords often retaliate by terminating tenancies when renters organize for their rights and safety. “Currently, with just 60 days’ notice, a landlord can evict a tenant by refusing to renew the lease without any stated cause,” said Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins (District 20, Montgomery County). “Evictions are destabilizing for any household, especially low-income families, seniors, and disabled renters.”

“After 23 years of living in my apartment, I was given two months to move out, so that the landlord could remodel the unit and double my rent,” said Dean “Gus” Sanon. “We need a law that protects us from this unjust eviction.”

3) Tenant Safety Act – to allow groups of tenants to file “rent escrow” collectively in order to hold their landlord accountable. “Maryland law theoretically affords tenants the right to a home that meets basic structural, health, and safety standards,” said Delegate Vaughn Stewart (District 19, Montgomery County). “But because they face barriers to enforcing that right, many families live in putrid conditions, forced to inhale mold, dodge rats, and sleep in buildings that are literally falling apart. The Tenant Safety Act will make it easier for groups of renters to file lawsuits collectively.”

Montgomery County resident Jessica Guerrero said, “My neighbors and I all have the same maintenance concerns for our health and safety in our apartments. So, we ask that legislators recognize that we need a law that will allow us to work together to resolve these hazards rather than divide us into individuals without common concerns.”

4) Stop Illegally Operating Landlords from Using Eviction Court – to stop landlords who lack an operating license from using a loophole in our court system to violate local licensing laws and evict tenants. Governor Hogan vetoed the bill Renters United MD helped pass last session. 

“Del. Mary Lehman and I are reintroducing the bill (that passed the Senate unanimously) to put power back into local jurisdictions’ licensing requirements by mandating that landlords comply with these laws before they may use the law to evict someone for breach of lease or tenant holding over,” said Senator Shelly Hettleman (District 11, Baltimore County).

Indigo Tull of CopyCat Tenant’s Union in Baltimore City said, “A landlord shouldn’t be able to take up court resources and threaten tenants with homelessness when they’re not even meeting minimal legal requirements for safety and habitability.”