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Issues for Landlords – My tenant stopped paying rent, what can I do?

• What action? When a tenant fails to pay rent, the landlord may seek eviction and money damages. NEW: Before filing a Failure to Pay Rent case with the District Court, tenant’s must be provided with a notice of the Landlord’s intent to do so. The notice must tell the tenant how much rent is due and give them 10 days to pay. Landlords should use the form, Notice of Intent To File A Complaint For Summary Ejectment (Failure To Pay Rent) (DC-CV-115),
• How to file? After giving proper notice of past due rent, the landlord may file a Failure to Pay Rent form (DC-CV-082). File the form in the District Court in the county where the rental property is located.
• How to give notice? After the case is filed, the tenant will need be served. The District Court, sheriff, or constable will mail copies of the papers to the tenant and post them on the property, or you can request that the sheriff or constable serve the tenant in person (for a fee). You can also arrange for private process service, where a company or individual will serve the tenant for you, in addition to the service by the sheriff or constable.
• What happens in court? On the trial date, if either party fails to appear, the court may dismiss the case, issue a judgment, or postpone the trial. If both parties are present, the judge will listen to evidence from both sides. If the court finds in favor of the landlord, the court may enter judgment for possession. In Baltimore City, special notice requirements apply.
• What happens after judgment? After the court enters judgment for possession, the tenant no longer has the right to live in the property. See the next section about Evictions.

How do I evict a tenant?

• What action? For failure to pay rent cases the eviction process cannot start until 4 business days have passed from the time the court entered a judgment for possession in favor of the landlord. For breach of lease cases, or tenant holding over cases ( refuses to leave), the landlord may seek eviction immediately.
• What do I need to do first? Obtain a judgment for possession against the tenant from the District Court. See “How to File” above.
• How to file? The landlord may file a Petition for Warrant of Restitution (DC-CV-081), The court will decide whether to enter an Order for Warrant of Restitution.
• How to give notice? The landlord is not responsible for notifying the tenant of the time of eviction. However, it makes sense to do so because it gives the tenant the chance to remove personal property before the eviction. This is not the case in Baltimore City. Special notice of eviction date rules apply to Failure to Pay Rent cases.
• How to evict the tenant? The sheriff or constable must be present during the eviction. To begin the process of eviction, the landlord requests a Warrant of Restitution. In a failure to pay rent case, the Landlord must make the request within 60 days of judgment or the expiration of any stay of execution. The eviction cannot take place on a Sunday or holiday. Once property is removed from the premises, the tenant is responsible for its safety. In Baltimore City, special property removal restrictions apply,

How long does it take to evict a tenant in Md?

Step 5: Possession of Property is Returned – Tenants must be evicted within 60 days of the date the writ of restitution is issued for all evictions other than nonpayment of rent. That doesn’t mean tenants automatically have 60 days to move out; it means the latest possible date a tenant could be forcibly removed is 60 days after the writ is issued. Approximately 11-60 days. The tenant will have 1-60 days at the most once the writ of restitution has been issued to move out of the rental unit, depending on the reason for the eviction.

Can you be evicted in Md without going to court?

Eviction is a legal process. The landlord can’t just tell you that you have to move or throw out your belongings. To evict you, a landlord must go to District Court to get a judgment against you.

Can you be evicted in Maryland right now?

Yes, evictions may now take place. The statewide pause on evictions was lifted on July 25, 2020. If you had an eviction that was pending or scheduled before the state of emergency, then the sheriff may now carry out that eviction.

How much notice do you have to give a tenant to move out in Maryland?

How much notice must a landlord give a tenant to vacate? – The landlord must give written notice, at least two months for single-family and multi-family units, if there is no breach of lease. (See Section VII, Terminating the Lease, Landlord-Tenant Handbook),

MC311 KBA: Notice to Vacate at Expiration of Initial Lease Term or in Month-to-Month Tenancy – Landlord

What is the fastest you can evict a tenant?

How Many Days Notice For Eviction? – It depends upon the reason for eviction and the length of the tenant’s occupancy. The appropriate Eviction Notice to serve for non-payment of rent would be a 3 Day Notice to Pay or Quit, or a 30 or 60 Day Notice to Vacate.

1. If the tenant has been there for less than a year paying on a month to month basis and you want to terminate their tenancy, a 30 Day Notice to Vacate is the correct form to serve.
2. If the tenant has been there for over a year, a 60 Day Notice to Vacate is the eviction notice you want to serve.
3. Non-compliance with their rental or lease agreement – like subletting out to additional tenants – would be a Notice to Perform Covenant.

Creating a nuisance or criminal activity would be a 3 Day Notice to Quit. This can also be influenced depending upon whether or not you are in a rent control city. If your property is under rent control it is advisable for you to contact an attorney for the specific requirements of rent control.

Commercial leases differ from residential leases in that you have to make sure if you are naming a corporation or LLC, that you serve the right person or agent for that corporation or LLC. Another important difference between a commercial and a residential lease are that once the notice is filed you can accept payment of rent during the eviction process, so long as it does not exceed the amount on the notice you served them with – and so long as you serve them with the correct commercial notice.

With residential leases, you cannot accept payment without jeopardizing your case. Serving the right notice is the critical first step beginning the eviction process so you can legally file an Unlawful Detainer complaint against the unwanted tenant.

How hard is it to evict someone in Maryland?

3. Non-renewal of the lease after the rental period ends – In Maryland, landlords cannot evict tenants or force them to vacate the property without probable cause. As long as the tenant does not violate any rules, they can stay until their rental period ends.

Lease Agreement or Type of Tenancy	Notice to Receive
Weekly	7-Day Notice to Quit
Monthly	30-Day Notice to Quit
Yearly	90-Day Notice to Quit

If the rental property is located in Baltimore City or Montgomery County, these notice periods are not applicable. In the case that the tenant is in Montgomery County and has a tenancy that is renewed monthly but is less than a year, they need to receive a 2-Month Notice to Quit.

What are grounds for eviction in Maryland?

Issues for Landlords – My tenant stopped paying rent, what can I do?

• What action? When a tenant fails to pay rent, the landlord may seek eviction and money damages. NEW: Before filing a Failure to Pay Rent case with the District Court, tenant’s must be provided with a notice of the Landlord’s intent to do so. The notice must tell the tenant how much rent is due and give them 10 days to pay. Landlords should use the form, Notice of Intent To File A Complaint For Summary Ejectment (Failure To Pay Rent) (DC-CV-115),
• How to file? After giving proper notice of past due rent, the landlord may file a Failure to Pay Rent form (DC-CV-082). File the form in the District Court in the county where the rental property is located.
• How to give notice? After the case is filed, the tenant will need be served. The District Court, sheriff, or constable will mail copies of the papers to the tenant and post them on the property, or you can request that the sheriff or constable serve the tenant in person (for a fee). You can also arrange for private process service, where a company or individual will serve the tenant for you, in addition to the service by the sheriff or constable.
• What happens in court? On the trial date, if either party fails to appear, the court may dismiss the case, issue a judgment, or postpone the trial. If both parties are present, the judge will listen to evidence from both sides. If the court finds in favor of the landlord, the court may enter judgment for possession. In Baltimore City, special notice requirements apply.
• What happens after judgment? After the court enters judgment for possession, the tenant no longer has the right to live in the property. See the next section about Evictions.

How do I evict a tenant?

• What action? For failure to pay rent cases the eviction process cannot start until 4 business days have passed from the time the court entered a judgment for possession in favor of the landlord. For breach of lease cases, or tenant holding over cases ( refuses to leave), the landlord may seek eviction immediately.
• What do I need to do first? Obtain a judgment for possession against the tenant from the District Court. See “How to File” above.
• How to file? The landlord may file a Petition for Warrant of Restitution (DC-CV-081), The court will decide whether to enter an Order for Warrant of Restitution.
• How to give notice? The landlord is not responsible for notifying the tenant of the time of eviction. However, it makes sense to do so because it gives the tenant the chance to remove personal property before the eviction. This is not the case in Baltimore City. Special notice of eviction date rules apply to Failure to Pay Rent cases.
• How to evict the tenant? The sheriff or constable must be present during the eviction. To begin the process of eviction, the landlord requests a Warrant of Restitution. In a failure to pay rent case, the Landlord must make the request within 60 days of judgment or the expiration of any stay of execution. The eviction cannot take place on a Sunday or holiday. Once property is removed from the premises, the tenant is responsible for its safety. In Baltimore City, special property removal restrictions apply,

Which Cannot be the reason for eviction?

Necessary Elements of a Valid Eviction Notice Landlords have a lot of legal remedies available under the Uniform Residential Landlord Tenant Act (URLTA), 1872. Some of which include: forfeiture, monetary damages, some self-help remedies or eviction. A landlord has the right to ask his tenant to vacate the place and the right to start the process of eviction against him.

Eviction is the process by which the landlords can eject the tenants from his property. The process begins with the landlord giving a notice to the tenant to settle the grievances or otherwise vacate his property. If the terms are not settled, court-proceedings on the eviction can start where both the parties put up their issues.

At the end of the proceedings, if the landlord wins, the tenant has to evict the land and restore it back in the hands of the owner. It has been decided in the case of Achintya Kumar Saha v. Nanee Printers (2004, 12 SCC 368) that: “in view of the rent control laws and the concept of statutory tenancy evolved in the respect of urban building it is now generally necessary to determine tenancy by a notice to quit before claiming ejectment on grounds admissible under such laws.” If the tenant is un-cooperative and does not want to settle the dispute peacefully and even not agrees to vacate the land, the landlord can issue an eviction notice.

1. Not only a tenancy of temporary term but also of fixed term can be challenged and determined by the eviction notice.
2. The proper drafting and inclusion of all the important points in an Eviction notice is essential as there have been cases when the suits have been dismissed only because of the errors in the Eviction notice.

The essential elements of the eviction notice are:

1. The notice must be given in writing and should be signed by or on behalf of the landlord or the person giving it.
2. The landlord cannot issue the notice of eviction just because he wants to but only if has a valid and legal reason. The reason to ask the tenant to get out from the place must be a justifiable reason and must not be derived from a mere demand of more possessions which was given in the judgement of the case Narayan v. Kunbhan Mannudiar, Some of the common grounds to begin the process of eviction include:
   1. Failure of the tenant to pay rent (not at agreed time or not all): If the tenant is even late by 15 days, the landlord has an opportunity to evict the tenant. Eviction notice can be issued if the tenant neither pays the rent nor vacates the rented property.
   2. Tenant causing damage to the property: The landlord can ask the tenant to evict the property, if he by any means causes any damage to the property of the landlord.
   3. Causing health or safety hazards on the property of the lessor: The tenant must take proper care while doing anything on the rented property and if does something that may cause harm to the health or safety of the landlord or his family, he can be asked to vacate the place.
   4. Violation of the terms of the rental or the lease agreement by the lessee: The tenant must abide by all the clauses agreed upon in the rental/ lease agreement while signing the contract and must not to anything against the same.
   5. Tenant uses the land for unlawful purposes: The tenant can be asked to leave the property if he uses it for some illegal purposes or purposes not mentioned in the agreement;
   6. If there is some urgent need of property by the owner: If the owner needs the property for his personal use or any of his family member needs it urgently, the eviction notice can be issued.
3. If the landlord is not the sole-owner and has a co-owner both of the co-owners can act as the landlord individually and a notice is issued by anyone of them will be valid and legal. It was decided in the case of Sri Ram Pasricha v. Jagannath, 1976, SCC 184 that, “a co-owner is as much an owner of the entire property as any sole owner of a property is” and hence one co-owner is the landlord and a notice issued by him or a suit filed by him is legally valid as well as sufficient.
4. If there are many lessors who own the property, the notice must be issued by all of them and hence a notice moved by any one of the joint lessors will not be applicable. Though the signature of all the lessors must be present but a notice with the signature of any one of the joint lessors will be valid if the notice mentions the line, “we give you the notice” that implies the consent of all the others as well. This principle has been decided in the case of Madhusudan Prasad Agarwal v. Sushma Bala Dasi where the notice was signed by only one plaintiff (though they were 2 owners). This act of signing by only one was criticised by the opponent lawyer, but the court considered the notice valid and continued the proceedings. The notice was accepted as all the appeals implied consensus of both the plaintiffs as the word ‘WE’ was used to put the statements and hence there might be some reason that the other plaintiff may not have able to sign. A notice to terminate the tenancy of a trust deed must also be on behalf of all the lessors and may be given by one. The notice by only one of the joint lessors is not sufficient. According to the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 a trustee is not the sole owner and cannot take decisions on behalf of the other trustees where they are equally affected by the act. Hence in any law suit, the final decision must be taken by all the trustees concurrently and then acted upon. And the similar principle is applied while issuing an eviction notice where it must be issued after the consent of all the trustees.
5. The landlord has no right to forcefully evict the tenant. He cannot even call the police to directly throw him out. Taking the help of wrongful methods like cutting the water supply or electricity connection, throwing his belongings out or taking penalizing measures on his own to evacuate the place can make the landlord liable in the court of law. The landlord must give the eviction notice which provides sufficient time limit to the tenant to either vacate the place or make the payments (whatever the case may be). The time given must be in accordance with the terms mentioned already in the rental agreement and if they were not specifically mentioned then in the eviction notice, then sufficient time should be given after which the tenant can be summoned in the court according to the state enacted acts. According to the Section 106 of Transfer of Property Act, 1882, the time a lease of immovable property that is renewed year from year is terminable after six months notice and a lease that is renewed month after month is terminable after a fifteen days’ notice. The time given by the landlord to the tenant to vacate the house may vary from one to three months depending on the reason, relations and the time period for which the tenant had been staying/using the property. It may extend to six months time in rarest of cases. At least 21 days are given before ending the tenancy and sometimes 15 days if rent is not paid since a long time.
6. If there are more than one tenant, the notice must refer and be delivered to all of them. The notice can either be handled personally to the tenant or via a servant may hand it over. There is also a provision of sending the notice via post where the communication will be accepted as per Indian Contracts Act, 1872. The notice can be given by the landlord himself taking care of including all the important points in it according to the Rental Agreement and Tenancy Act of the state or he may request a lawyer to draft the same sand summon it to the tenant.
7. The tenant has an option to clear the issue with his landlord in a friendly manner. If not, the owner can give him a notice to evict the place and still it depends on the tenant that whether he wants to comply with the terms of the eviction notice or not. If the notice is sent by post, and no response is received it may be presumed as unwillingness on the part of the tenant to accept the terms of the owner by the tenant. If the tenant accepts the eviction notice, he will evacuate the place within the given time and if he still does not vacate the place the eviction process may be carried forward.

The tenant if not complies with the eviction notice the eviction process further can be carried out against him. It has been held in the case of Munisami Naidu v.C. Ranganathan, AIR 1991 SC 492 the Board was entitled to institute proceedings against the tenant as the notice period had expired.

1. Similar was the case in Vasant Kumar Radhakishan Vora v.
2. The Board of Trustees of the Port of Bombay, AIR 1991 SC 14 where the plaintiff sued the defended for not conforming to the Eviction notice.
3. After the filing of the suit in the Court, the proceedings start which may take some more time than expected to reach to a conclusion.

After the proceedings, the court decides on the bases of the facts and appeals of both the parties about the further eviction. If the plaintiff (the landowner) wins the court orders the tenant to evict the place within a reasonable specified time and still if he does not the help of police can be sought to get rid of the tenant.

There have been cases where eviction notice has been moved against the tenants without any appropriate reason. Landlord have filed false charges of not paying the rent on the tenants and then then tried to throw them out of the rented property. In such false cases, the tenants always have a right to justify themselves and stand against the eviction.

The tenant can seek the help from the Rent Controllers in the region based on the Rent Controller Act, 1948. The tenant during the court proceedings can show the bills of the money paid or cash deposited. In case of cash given in the hand of the landlord the evidence to prove may be a bit difficult and hence the mode of depositing of the rent must be fixed prior in the rental agreement.

The tenant also has an option to file a petition against the landlord if he uses illegal method to evict the tenant (even if the tenant is wrong) as the landlord can never adopt self-reliant methods to eject the tenant. Conclusion Renting an apartment, house or property is a common practice in our society and is beneficial simultaneously for both the owner and the tenant.

But there are also cases where the landlord gets tired of the tenant as he does not pay the rent or sorts to some unlawful or hazardous activities at the owner’s place and hence the owner may ask the tenant to leave his place and restore his property back to him.

• The dispute can usually be settled peacefully but if not, the landlord has to opt for the eviction process to get rid of such a tenant.
• And to initiate this process it is imperative to issue a valid eviction notice which have all the essential elements which if not complied will further act as an evidence in the court proceedings.

List Of References:

• http://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-2005-essentials-of-a-valid-notice-of-eviction.html
• https://www.myadvo.in/blog/send-legal-notice-to-vacate-premise-by-tenant
• http://www.legalservicesindia.com/article/2103/Protection-of-Tenants-Against-Eviction.html
• Achintya Kumar Saha v. Nanee Printers (2004, 12 SCC 368)
• Sri Ram Pasricha v. Jagannath, 1976, SCC 184
• Munisami Naidu v.C. Ranganathan, AIR 1991 SC 492
• Vasant Kumar Radhakishan Vora v. The Board of Trustees of the Port of Bombay, AIR 1991 SC 14
• Transfer of Property Act

How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Maryland?

This question is about Maryland Eviction Process – How much does it cost to evict someone in Maryland? It costs $15 to evict someone for nonpayment of rent in Maryland, except in Baltimore, where it costs $25. For all other types of evictions, it costs $56 in Baltimore, and $46 for the rest of the state.

What are squatters rights in Maryland?

What Rights Do Squatters Have? – Even though squatters are living in rentals illegally, they still have rights. In fact, a squatter can claim rights to a property in Maryland if they continuously reside there for 20 years without being removed by a landlord.

Actual- The possession cannot be imagined or planned possession of land; it must exist and currently take place.

Open and Notorious- The residency is not done in secret, and the possession of the property is known.

Continuous- The residency or possession of the property has been ongoing for 20 years or longer.

Hostile- The occupancy is against the legal interests of the landlord or property owner.

Exclusive- A single person or legal party held the possession,

Although it’s true that squatters can eventually gain control of your property, it’s doubtful. So next, let’s go over how landlords can prevent a complicated legal situation with squatters by following some essential tips.

How late can rent be in Maryland?

If the rental agreement is a week-to-week agreement, late fees cannot exceed $3.00 a week or $12.00 a month. There are no statutory grace periods in Maryland; therefore, when rent is late the landlord can start charging late fees.

How do I evict a roommate who is not on the lease in Maryland?

Evicting Someone Not on the Lease – Below is a summary of how to remove someone who’s not on the lease:

1. Determine if the person’s a guest, roommate, or tenant.
2. Talk to the landlord (if you’re a renter).
3. Contact law enforcement /deliver an eviction notice (if required).
4. File an eviction case with the appropriate court (if required).
5. Attend the eviction hearing (if a hearing is required).
6. File an appeal if the court doesn’t evict the party.

In the best of circumstances, you would never have to remove a friend, guest, roommate, or family member (or anyone else who’s not on a lease with you) from your property. However, if that does need to happen, make sure you understand the legal requirements in your state

What are tenants rights in Maryland?

Landlords and tenants in Maryland must become familiar with Maryland’s landlord-tenant laws. These laws spell out the specific rules and responsibilities both landlords and tenants must follow. Under Maryland law, tenants have a right to freedom from housing discrimination, a right to certain security deposit protections, the right to freedom from landlord retaliation, and the right to be protected after domestic violence.

What is an illegal eviction in Maryland?

If the tenant does pay and the landlord goes through with the eviction, or evicts a tenant without a warrant of restitution, this is called ‘self-help’ and is illegal under Md. Code, Real Property § 8-216. That statute allows a tenant to recover damages from the landlord, as well as reasonable attorneys’ fees.

How long do you have to vacate after eviction in Maryland?

Attend the Court Hearing – At the court hearing, a judge will hear both sides of the story and make their decision. If the judge rules in favor of the landlord, the tenant is ordered to vacate the property, usually within 4 to 5 days. Ideally, the tenant will vacate on their own after the court order.

1. However, this is not always the case, and property owners may need to take further action.
2. Removal Through a Warrant of Restitution If he tenants fail to leave within the specified timeframe, the landlord still cannot forcibly remove them on their own.
3. Instead, property owners must ask the court for a Warrant of Restitution,

This document instructs the sheriff to physically escort your tenants off of the property.

How does the eviction process work in Maryland?

Issues for Landlords – My tenant stopped paying rent, what can I do?

• What action? When a tenant fails to pay rent, the landlord may seek eviction and money damages. NEW: Before filing a Failure to Pay Rent case with the District Court, tenant’s must be provided with a notice of the Landlord’s intent to do so. The notice must tell the tenant how much rent is due and give them 10 days to pay. Landlords should use the form, Notice of Intent To File A Complaint For Summary Ejectment (Failure To Pay Rent) (DC-CV-115),
• How to file? After giving proper notice of past due rent, the landlord may file a Failure to Pay Rent form (DC-CV-082). File the form in the District Court in the county where the rental property is located.
• How to give notice? After the case is filed, the tenant will need be served. The District Court, sheriff, or constable will mail copies of the papers to the tenant and post them on the property, or you can request that the sheriff or constable serve the tenant in person (for a fee). You can also arrange for private process service, where a company or individual will serve the tenant for you, in addition to the service by the sheriff or constable.
• What happens in court? On the trial date, if either party fails to appear, the court may dismiss the case, issue a judgment, or postpone the trial. If both parties are present, the judge will listen to evidence from both sides. If the court finds in favor of the landlord, the court may enter judgment for possession. In Baltimore City, special notice requirements apply.
• What happens after judgment? After the court enters judgment for possession, the tenant no longer has the right to live in the property. See the next section about Evictions.

How do I evict a tenant?

• What action? For failure to pay rent cases the eviction process cannot start until 4 business days have passed from the time the court entered a judgment for possession in favor of the landlord. For breach of lease cases, or tenant holding over cases ( refuses to leave), the landlord may seek eviction immediately.
• What do I need to do first? Obtain a judgment for possession against the tenant from the District Court. See “How to File” above.
• How to file? The landlord may file a Petition for Warrant of Restitution (DC-CV-081), The court will decide whether to enter an Order for Warrant of Restitution.
• How to give notice? The landlord is not responsible for notifying the tenant of the time of eviction. However, it makes sense to do so because it gives the tenant the chance to remove personal property before the eviction. This is not the case in Baltimore City. Special notice of eviction date rules apply to Failure to Pay Rent cases.
• How to evict the tenant? The sheriff or constable must be present during the eviction. To begin the process of eviction, the landlord requests a Warrant of Restitution. In a failure to pay rent case, the Landlord must make the request within 60 days of judgment or the expiration of any stay of execution. The eviction cannot take place on a Sunday or holiday. Once property is removed from the premises, the tenant is responsible for its safety. In Baltimore City, special property removal restrictions apply,

How long does it take to get tenants evicted?

2 Claim Possession Of Your Property – If your tenant ignores a Section 8 notice you will need to apply for a possession order from the courts. You can use the possession claim service, which will allow you to complete the paperwork online and review the status of you claim – it costs £355.

How do I delay eviction in Maryland?

Tenant Failure to Pay Rent – If a tenant fails to pay rent when it is due, a landlord can immediately begin the eviction process. Unlike most states, Maryland law does not require the landlord to give the tenant any kind of notice before filing an eviction lawsuit with the court.

Unless the lease says otherwise, the first notice that the tenant receives of the upcoming eviction is likely to be the filed court documents (see Md. Code Ann. § 8-401 ). The tenant can still stop the eviction, though, by paying rent in full, along with any late fees and court costs, by the day of the trial or hearing before the judge.

As long as the tenant pays rent in full before the judge makes a final decision regarding the eviction, the eviction will not proceed (see Md. Code Ann. § 8-401(c)(5) ).