As of now, there are no longer any state or federal protections in place to prevent evictions of residential tenants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are behind on rent or facing eviction from your home, it is extremely important that you seek help before simply moving out. There are resources available that may help you avoid eviction. Most of these resources, however, are available only while you are still living in your rental home.
Eviction is a legal procedure. The landlord cannot just tell you that you have to move, change your locks, cut off your utilities, or put your belongings out on the street. Similarly, your landlord cannot evict you simply because you have filed a complaint or a lawsuit against the landlord, or because you have joined a tenants' association. Your landlord can file a failure to pay rent action in court if your rent due date has passed and you have not paid the rent. A new law that goes into effect on October 1, 2021, requires landlords to provide notice before filing an eviction action. However, until that time, the landlord does not have to give you advance notice of unpaid rent in a failure to pay rent case.
If your rental unit has a health or safety concern that the landlord has failed to fix, you may be entitled to file a rent escrow case against your landlord. If the judge determines there is a serious enough risk to health or safety, the court will order you to pay your rent directly to the court until the landlord fixes these problems.
More general information about eviction cases is also available on the Maryland Courts' website.
If you are unable to pay your rent, you may wish to talk to your landlord about a payment plan. If you are unable to agree to a payment plan, ask if your landlord will agree that you can stay in your home until a specific date. Make sure you get any agreements you make with your landlord in writing.
Most failure to pay rent evictions can be stopped by paying the rent that is owed. If you are unable to pay the rent, or need rent assistance, seek help. You may qualify for rental assistance, which is funding that is available to tenants and landlords to help cover rent and other housing costs that are already owed and/or will be owed. A list of rental assistance resources appears below.
If your landlord files an eviction lawsuit against you, be sure to respond to any requests from the court. If you receive a notice of a court hearing, it is important that you appear on the date and time listed. This is your only opportunity to present any evidence or defend yourself against the eviction. If you fail to respond to the court or appear for court hearings, it is unlikely that you will be able to take advantage of the resources described above, and you will be at substantial risk of eviction.
Please note that you may have a legal defense to eviction. There are several free and low-cost legal assistance organizations throughout the State that may be able to provide you with legal advice and/or representation if you qualify for their services. If you plan on representing yourself in court, the Maryland Court Self-Help Center may be able to help you prepare your case. More information about the Self-Help Center appears below.
If you are unable to pay rent and believe you may be evicted, you may wish to seek financial help.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Help for Renters website: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/coronavirus/ mortgage-and-housing-assistance/renter-protections/
Maryland Emergency Rental Assistance Call Center: 877-546-5595 or dhcd.maryland.gov/Pages/EvictionPrevention/default.aspx. (This site also has links to local/county rental assistance programs.)
2-1-1 Maryland: Call 2-1-1 and the staff will connect you with rental assistance (also available online at https://211md.org/).
Contact your local or county government to ask if it has a rental assistance program.
If your landlord files an eviction lawsuit against you, you will have to go to court. If you need a lawyer, one of these nonprofit legal services organizations may be able to provide legal advice or representation:
Allegany County
Allegany Law Foundation 301-722-3390 alleganylaw.com
Maryland Legal Aid 301-777-7474 mdlab.org
Anne Arundel County
Community Legal Services 240-391-6370 clspgc.org
Maryland Legal Aid 410-972-2700 mdlab.org
Baltimore City
Disability Rights Maryland (If eviction is related to disability) 410-727-6352 disabilityrightsmd.org
Homeless Persons Representation Project (Public/Subsidized Housing) 410-685-6859 hprplaw.org
Maryland Legal Aid 410-952-7750 mdlab.org
Pro Bono Resource Center 443-703-3053 probonomd.org
Public Justice Center 410-625-9409 publicjustice.org
St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center 410-366-8550 x249 stambros.org
Baltimore County
Maryland Legal Aid 410-427-1800 mdlab.org Pro Bono Resource Center 443-703-3053 probonomd.org
Caroline County
Maryland Legal Aid 410-763-9676 mdlab.org
Mid-Shore Pro Bono 410-690-8128 midshoreprobono.org
Carroll County
Maryland Legal Aid 301-694-7414 mdlab.org
Calvert County
Maryland Legal Aid 301-932-6661 mdlab.org
Cecil County
Maryland Legal Aid 410-836-8202 mdlab.org
Charles County
Dorchester County
Maryland Legal Aid 410-546-5511 mdlab.org
Frederick County
Maryland Legal Aid 301-694-7414 mdlab.org Garrett County
Maryland Legal Aid 301-777-7474 mdlab.org Harford County
Maryland Legal Aid 410-836-8202 mdlab.org Howard County
Maryland Legal Aid 410-972-2700 mdlab.org Kent County
Mid-Shore Pro Bono 410-690-8128 midshoreprobono.org Montgomery County
Maryland Legal Aid 240-314-0373 mdlab.org
Montgomery County Bar Foundation 301-424-7651 barmont.org Prince George's County
Maryland Legal Aid 301-560-2100 mdlab.org
Queen Anne's County
Mid-Shore Pro Bono 410-690-8128 midshoreprobono.org St. Mary's County
Somerset County
Talbot County
Mid-Shore Pro Bono 410-690-8128 midshoreprobono.org Washington County
Maryland Legal Aid 301-694-7414 mdlab.org Wicomico County
Mid-Shore Pro Bono 410-690-8128 midshoreprobono.org Worcester County
These organizations may be able to help you find legal help:
If you plan on representing yourself in court, the Maryland Court Self-Help Center may be able to help you prepare your case. You can call 410-260-1392, visit the Help Center's website, or visit one of the walk-in District Court Help Centers located across the State. (To watch a video about the Self-Help Centers, click www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tfdnCuVnEo.)