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*hb0774*
HOUSE BILL 774
N1 6lr2006
HB 709/25 – ENT CF SB 462
By: Delegates Wilkins and Smith
Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2026
Assigned to: Economic Matters
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted with floor amendments
Read second time: March 18, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Landlord and Tenant – Residential Leases and Holdover Tenancies – Local 2
Good Cause Termination 3
(Good Cause Eviction) 4
FOR the purpose of authorizing a county to adopt, by local law or ordinance, provisions 5
prohibiting certain landlords of residential property from failing to renew a lease 6
during the lease period or from terminating a holdover tenancy without good cause; 7
establishing certain requirements and prohibitions for a local law or ordinance 8
adopted in accordance with this Act; requiring, in a county that has adopted a local 9
law or ordinance in accordance with this Act, that a landlord provide ce rtain 10
information with a lease related to whether the landlord is subject to the local law 11
or ordinance; requiring the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs in the Department 12
of Housing and Community Development to develop certain forms for a landlord to 13
provide to a tenant; requiring, in a county that has adopted a local law or ordinance 14
in accordance with this Act, that a landlord provide certain information to a tenant 15
and in a certain court pleading relating to whether the landlord is required to 16
demonstrate good cause when seeking relief in accordance with a certain provision 17
of law; and generally relating to residential leases and holdover tenancies. 18
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 19
Article – Real Property 20
Section 8–208(c) and 8–402(c)(2) 21
Annotated Code of Maryland 22
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 23
2 HOUSE BILL 774
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 1
Article – Real Property 2
Section 8–402(c)(1) and (d) 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 5
BY adding to 6
Article – Real Property 7
Section 8–402(e) and 8–402.3 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Real Property 13
8–208. 14
(c) (1) IN THIS SUBSECTION, “OFFICE” MEANS THE OFFICE OF TENANT 15
AND LANDLORD AFFAIRS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY 16
DEVELOPMENT. 17
(2) A lease shall include: 18
[(1)] (I) A statement that the premise s will be made available in a 19
condition permitting habitation, with reasonable safety, if that is the agreement, or if that 20
is not the agreement, a statement of the agreement concerning the condition of the 21
premises; 22
[(2)] (II) The landlord’s and the te nant’s specific obligations as to heat, 23
gas, electricity, water, and repair of the premises; 24
[(3)] (III) A receipt for the security deposit as specified in § 8–203.1 of this 25
subtitle; and 26
[(4)] (IV) A copy of the most current version of the Maryland Tenants’ Bill 27
of Rights published by the Office [of Tenant and Landlord Affairs in the Department of 28
Housing and Community Development]. 29
(3) (I) THIS PARAGRAPH APPLIE S ONLY IN A COUNTY T HAT HAS 30
ADOPTED A LOCAL LAW OR ORDIN ANCE IN ACCORDANCE W ITH § 8–402.3 OF THIS 31
TITLE. 32
(II) A LEASE OR LEASE RENEW AL SHALL INCLUDE NOT ICE 33
STATING WHETHER THE LANDLORD IS SUBJECT TO THE LOCAL GOOD CA USE 34
HOUSE BILL 774 3
STATUTE OR ORDINANCE OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH A RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNIT IS 1
LOCATED. 2
(III) A LANDLORD STATING IN A NOTICE UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH 3
(II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH TH AT THE LOCAL GOOD CA USE PROVISIONS OF TH E 4
COUNTY DO NOT APPLY TO THE LANDLORD SHALL PROVIDE THE TENANT WITH THE 5
FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON A FORM PRESCRIBED BY THE OFFICE: 6
1. THE FULL LEGAL NAME O F EACH INDIVIDUAL AN D 7
THE BUSINESS NAME OF EACH ENTITY WITH DIR ECT OR INDIRECT OWNE RSHIP OR 8
MEMBERSHIP INTEREST IN THE RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNIT; 9
2. THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNITS IN THE 10
STATE OWNED BY EACH INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY IDENTIFIED UNDER ITEM 1 OF THIS 11
SUBPARAGRAPH, INCLUDING THE ADDRES S OF EACH RESIDENTIA L RENTAL UNIT 12
IDENTIFIED; AND 13
3. ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE 14
OFFICE. 15
(IV) AN INDIVIDUAL OR ENTI TY HAS AN INTEREST I N A 16
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNIT UND ER SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH IF 17
THE INDIVIDUAL OR EN TITY HAS A DIRECT OR INDIRECT OWNERSHIP O R 18
MEMBERSHIP INTEREST IN ANY ENTITY THAT H AS A DIRECT OR INDIR ECT 19
OWNERSHIP OR MEMBERSHIP INTEREST IN THE RENTAL UNIT. 20
(V) IF A LANDLORD BECOMES SUB JECT TO A LOCAL GOOD 21
CAUSE LAW OR ORDINAN CE, THE LANDLORD SHALL P ROVIDE TIMELY WRITTE N 22
NOTICE TO ALL TENANT S OF THE LANDLORD IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE GOOD 23
CAUSE REQUIREMENTS A PPLY, INCLUDING ANY TENANT HOLDING OVER UNDER § 24
8–402 OF THIS TITLE. 25
(VI) 1. THE OFFICE SHALL DEVELOP AND MAKE PUBLICLY 26
AVAILABLE A DISCLOSURE FORM FOR USE BY A LANDLORD UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH 27
(III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH. 28
2. THE OFFICE MAY ADOPT REGU LATIONS TO CARRY 29
OUT THIS PARAGRAPH. 30
8–402. 31
(c) (1) This subsection applies to all cases of tenancies at the expiration of a 32
stated term, tenancies from year to year, tenancies from month to month, and tenancies 33
from week to week. 34
4 HOUSE BILL 774
(2) Except as provided in paragraphs (3) and (4) of this subsection, AND 1
SUBJECT TO ANY LOCAL REQUIREMENT ADOPTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 8–402.3 2
OF THIS SUBTITLE , a landlord shall provide written notice of the intent to terminate a 3
tenancy: 4
(i) If the parties have a written lease for a stated term in excess of 5
1 week or a tenancy from month to month, 60 days before the expiration of the tenancy; 6
(ii) In the case of tenancies from year to year, including tobacco farm 7
tenancies from year to year but excluding all other farm tenancies from year to year, 90 8
days before the expiration of the current year of the tenancy; 9
(iii) In the case of tenancies from year to year for all other farm 10
tenancies, 180 days before the expiration of the current year of the tenancy; and 11
(iv) In the case of tenancies from week to week: 12
1. If th e parties have a written lease, 7 days before the 13
expiration of the tenancy; or 14
2. If the parties do not have a written lease, 21 days before 15
the expiration of the tenancy. 16
(d) Unless stated otherwise in the written lease and initialed by the tenant, when 17
a landlord consents to a holdover tenant remaining on the premises, the holdover tenant 18
becomes a periodic week–to–week tenant if the tenant was a week –to–week tenant before 19
the tenant’s holding over, and a periodic month–to–month tenant in all other cases. 20
(E) (1) IN THIS SUBSECTION, “OFFICE” MEANS THE OFFICE OF TENANT 21
AND LANDLORD AFFAIRS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY 22
DEVELOPMENT. 23
(2) THIS SUBSECTION APPLI ES ONLY IN A COUNTY THAT HAS 24
ADOPTED A LOCAL LAW OR ORDINANCE IN ACCO RDANCE WITH § 8–402.3 OF THIS 25
SUBTITLE. 26
(3) (I) PRIOR TO OR CONTEMPOR ANEOUSLY WITH NOTICE 27
REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION, A LANDLORD SHALL USE THE 28
FORM DEVELOPED BY THE OFFICE TO PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE BY FIRST–CLASS 29
MAIL WITH A CERTIFICATE OF MAILING TO A TENANT STATING: 30
1. THE GOOD CAUSE FOR TH E NONRENEWAL OF THE 31
LEASE OR THE TERMINATION OF THE HOLDOVER TENANCY; OR 32
HOUSE BILL 774 5
2. THAT THE LANDLORD IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LOCAL 1
GOOD CAUSE REQUIREME NTS ESTABLISHED IN A CCORDANCE WITH § 8–402.3 OF 2
THIS SUBTITLE. 3
(II) THE OFFICE SHALL DEVELOP AND MAKE PUBLICLY 4
AVAILABLE A FORM FOR THE NOTICE UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH. 5
(4) (I) A COMPLAINT FILED UNDE R THIS SECTION SHALL STATE 6
ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: 7
1. THE GOOD CAUSE FOR TH E NONRENEWAL OF THE 8
LEASE OR THE TERMINATION OF THE HOLDOVER TENANCY; OR 9
2. THAT THE LANDLORD IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LOCAL 10
GOOD CAUSE REQUIREME NTS ADOPTED IN ACCOR DANCE WITH § 8–402.3 OF THIS 11
SUBTITLE. 12
(II) A LANDLORD SHALL PLEAD SPECIFIC FACTS IN TH E 13
COMPLAINT TO PROVE THE STATEMENTS MADE UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS 14
PARAGRAPH BY A PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE. 15
(III) 1. IF A LANDLORD CLAIMS IN THE STATEMENT THAT THE 16
LANDLORD IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LOCAL GOO D CAUSE REQUIREMENTS UNDER § 17
8–402.3(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE , THE LA NDLORD SHALL INCLUDE A CURRENT 18
DISCLOSURE FORM AS P ROVIDED IN § 8–208(C)(3)(III) OF THIS TITLE WITH T HE 19
COMPLAINT. 20
2. AN INDIVIDUAL THAT IS IDENTIFIED IN THE 21
DISCLOSURE FORM AS H AVING A DIRECT OR IN DIRECT OWNERSHIP INT EREST IN 22
THE RESIDENTIAL RENT AL U NIT OF THE LANDLORD , OR THAT INDIVIDUAL ’S 23
DESIGNEE, SHALL SUBMIT AN AFFI DAVIT WITH THE COMPL AINT THAT CERTIFIES 24
THE DISCLOSURE FORM IS TRUE AND COMPLETE. 25
3. IF A CURRENT DISCLOSU RE FORM AND AFFIDAVI T 26
ARE NOT SUBMITTED WITH THE COMPLAINT, THE LANDLORD SHALL BE SUBJECT TO 27
THE LOCAL GOOD CAUSE REQUIREMENTS OF THE COUNTY FOR THAT ACTION. 28
8–402.3. 29
(A) IN THIS SECTION , “HOLDOVER TENANCY” MEANS A TENANCY 30
ESTABLISHED UNDER § 8–402(D) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 31
(B) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A COUNTY 32
MAY ADOPT , BY LOCAL LAW OR ORDI NANCE, PROVISIONS THAT PROH IBIT A 33
6 HOUSE BILL 774
LANDLORD FROM FAILIN G TO RENEW A LEASE D URING THE LEASE PERI OD OR 1
SEEKING TO TERMINATE A HOLDOVER TENANCY WITHOUT GOOD CAUSE. 2
(2) EACH OF THE FOLLOWING GROUNDS SHALL CONSTI TUTE GOOD 3
CAUSE IN A LOCAL LAW OR ORDINANCE ADOPTED UNDER THIS SECTION: 4
(I) A TENANT COMMITTING A SUBSTANTIAL BREACH O F THE 5
LEASE OR CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEASED PREMISES OR ANOTHER 6
AREA OF THE PROPERTY AND, AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE TO CURE OR CORRECT THE 7
BREACH OR PAY THE RE ASONABLE COST OF REP AIRING THE DAMAGE, FAILING TO 8
COMPLY WITHIN 14 DAYS; 9
(II) A TENANT ENGAGING IN R OUTINE DISORDERLY CO NDUCT 10
THAT DISTURBS THE PEACE AND QUIET OF OTHER TENANTS; 11
(III) A TENANT ENGAGING IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITY ON THE LEASED 12
PREMISES, ANOTHER AREA OF THE PROPERTY, OR A PUBLIC RIGHT –OF–WAY 13
ABUTTING THE LEASED PREMISES; 14
(IV) A TENANT, WITHOUT REASONABLE C AUSE, REFUSING TO 15
GRANT THE LANDLORD A CCESS TO THE LEASED PREMISES FOR THE PUR POSE OF 16
MAKING REPAIRS OR IM PROVEMENTS OR INSPECTING THE LEASED PREMIS ES, OR 17
AS OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED UNDER THE RESIDENTIAL LEASE OR APPLICABLE LAW; 18
(V) A HOLDOVER TENANT FAIL ING TO ACCEPT A LAND LORD’S 19
OFFER OF A NEW LEASE AGREEMENT FOR A TERM OF AT LEAST 1 MONTH BUT NOT 20
LONGER THAN THE TERM OF THE LEAS E AGREEMENT EFFECTIV E IMMEDIATELY 21
BEFORE THE HOLDOVER TENANCY WITHIN 1 MONTH AFTER THE LANDLORD MAKES 22
THE OFFER OR A GREATER PERIOD OF TIME AS OTHERWISE ESTABLISHED BY LAW; 23
(VI) A TENANT REPEATEDLY CO MMITTING MINOR VIOLA TIONS 24
OF THE LEASE THAT: 25
1. DISRUPT THE LIVABILITY OF THE LEASED PREMISES; 26
2. INTERFERE WITH THE MA NAGEMENT OF THE 27
PROPERTY; OR 28
3. HAVE AN ADVERSE FINAN CIAL IMPACT ON THE 29
PROPERTY; 30
(VII) A TENANT HABITUALLY FA ILING TO PAY RENT WH EN DUE, 31
IF THE TENANT HAS BEEN NOTIFIED BY THE LANDLORD IN WRITING THAT THE RENT 32
IS MORE THAN 10 DAYS LATE AT LEAST FOUR TIMES IN A 12–MONTH PERIOD; 33
HOUSE BILL 774 7
(VIII) A LANDLORD, IN GOOD FAITH , SEEKING TO RECOVER 1
POSSESSION OF THE LE ASED PREMISES FOR US E BY THE LANDLORD OR THE 2
LANDLORD’S: 3
1. SPOUSE; 4
2. CHILD OR STEPCHILD; 5
3. PARENT OR STEPPARENT; 6
4. GRANDPARENT; 7
5. SIBLING; 8
6. MOTHER–IN–LAW OR FATHER–IN–LAW; 9
7. DAUGHTER–IN–LAW OR SON–IN–LAW; 10
8. GRANDCHILD; OR 11
9. AUNT OR UNCLE; 12
(IX) A LANDLORD, AFTER HAVING OBTAINE D ALL NECESSARY 13
PERMITS, SEEKING TO UNDERTAKE SUBSTANTIAL REPAIRS OR RENOVATIONS THAT 14
CANNOT BE COMPLETED WHILE THE LEASED PREMISES ARE OCCUPIED; AND 15
(X) A LANDLORD, IN GOOD FAITH , SEEKING TO REMOVE TH E 16
LEASED PREMISES FOR AT LEAST 1 YEAR FROM THE RENTAL MARKET; AND 17
(XI) A TENANT’S OCCUPANCY IS CONDITIONED ON EMPLOYMENT 18
ON THE PROPERTY AND THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP IS TERMINATED. 19
(3) A COUNTY MAY NOT ADOPT ADDITIONAL OR ALTERN ATIVE 20
GROUNDS FOR GOOD CAUSE BY LOCAL LAW OR ORDINANCE. 21
(C) A LOCAL LAW OR ORDINAN CE ADOPTED BY A COUN TY UNDER THIS 22
SECTION: 23
(1) SHALL APPLY ONLY TO A LANDLORD THAT OWNS S IX OR MORE 24
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNITS IN THE STATE, INCLUDING ANY RESIDENTIAL RENTAL 25
UNITS THAT THE LANDLORD OWNS OR CONTROLS: 26
(I) IN WHOLE OR IN PART; 27
8 HOUSE BILL 774
(II) DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY; OR 1
(III) THROUGH ONE OR MORE LEGAL ENTITIES; AND 2
(2) MAY NOT: 3
(I) APPLY TO AN: 4
1. A SHORT–TERM RENTAL UNIT , AS DEFINED BY THE 5
LOCAL JURISDICTION; OR 6
2. AN OWNER–OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNIT; 7
(II) REQUIRE A LANDLORD TO DEMONSTRATE GOOD CAUSE IF A 8
TENANT PROVIDES NOTI CE TO THE LANDLORD T HAT EXPRESSES THE TE NANT’S 9
INTENT NOT TO RENEW THE LEASE OR CONTINU E WITH THE HOLDOVER TENANCY; 10
OR 11
(III) CONFLICT WITH THE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS OF § 8–402(C) 12
OF THIS SUBTITLE. 13
(D) A LOCAL LAW OR ORDINAN CE ADOPTED BY A COUN TY UNDER THIS 14
SECTION SHALL APPLY UNIFORMLY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY , INCLUDING IN 15
MUNICIPALITIES. 16
(E) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION, 17
FOR PURPOSES OF ESTABLISHING THE NUMBER OF UNITS OWNED BY A LANDLORD 18
TO DETERMINE THE APP LICABILITY OF A LOCA L LAW OR ORDINANCE A DOPTED IN 19
ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION, ANY RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNIT IN THE STATE 20
OWNED BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY THAT HAS DIRECT OR INDIRECT OWNERSHIP 21
OR MEMBERSHIP INTERE ST IN THE LANDLORD S HALL BE CONSIDERED A UNIT 22
OWNED BY THE LANDLORD. 23
(2) AN INDIVIDUAL OR ENTI TY DOES NOT HAVE OWN ERSHIP OR 24
MEMBERSHIP INTEREST IN A LANDLORD IF THE INDIVIDUAL’S OR ENTITY ’S 25
INTEREST IN THE LANDLORD IS IN THE NATURE OF A NONCONTROLLING INTEREST 26
IN A PUBLICLY TRADED CORPORATION, TRUST, MUTUAL FUND , OR SIMILAR 27
INVESTMENT VEHICLE. 28
(F) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , NOTHING IN 29
THIS SECTION MAY BE INTERPRETED TO ALTER THE RIGHTS OF A LANDLORD THAT 30
SEEKS RELIEF UNDER THIS SUBTITLE. 31
HOUSE BILL 774 9
(2) A LANDLORD IN A COUNTY THAT HAS ADOPTED A L OCAL LAW OR 1
ORDINANCE UNDER THIS SUBSECTION MAY SEEK RELIEF UNDER § 8–402 OF THIS 2
SUBTITLE ONLY AFTER DECLINING TO ENTER INTO A NEW LEASE OR TO CONTINUE A 3
HOLDOVER TENANCY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE LO CAL LAW 4
OR ORDINANCE. 5
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 6
October 1, 2026. 7
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.