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The Chief Judge of Maryland has ordered all non-emergency cases in all Maryland courts to be stayed during the COVID-emergency until June 5, 2020. 

 

She has also ordered all residential evictions to be stayed until further notice until July 25, 2020.  This can change anytime with a new court order and you may not get notice of your new eviction date. 

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A “stay” means that something is put on hold, paused or postponed.  "Residential" means the property is used for living, rather than running a business.    

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Landlord/ Tenant cases, including Failure to Pay Rent

 

All residential landlord/tenant cases are stayed until July 25, 2020.  The District Court is not hearing any Failure to Pay Rent, Breach of Lease, Tenant Holding Over, Rent Escrow** and other landlord/ tenant cases right now.  If you already had a case, that case is on hold.  The court will send you a notice to let you know when your case will be rescheduled.  

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Please Note:  Anyone can file a landlord/ tenant action in court and start a new case now.  Even if the case is filed now, it will not be heard until after July 25, 2020.  The court will notify you of the hearing date.

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**Rent Escrow: Currently, courts are closed to all non-emergency matters.  If you think the conditions in your property are an emergency and a threat to your life, health or safety, please contact the Self-Help Center to get legal advice. You can call 410-260-1392 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or Chat from 8:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

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Evictions

You cannot be evicted from your home right now.  In Maryland, a landlord needs a court order to evict a tenant from a property.  The Chief Judge of Maryland has ordered all evictions in the state to be put on hold. 

 

If the landlord already had a court order to evict a tenant (it's called a Warrant of Restitution), that order has also been put on hold, so the eviction is put on hold until further notice.  Under the court's order, the sheriffs across the state are not allowed to evict anyone right now.  This can change anytime with a new court order and you may not get notice of the new eviction date. 

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If you are illegally locked out or evicted from your property in Baltimore City, you can call and report that to District Court Commissioner in Baltimore City.

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In other parts of the state, please call 911 or your local Sheriff's Office to report the incident.  These legal services organizations may also be able to assist you.

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Evictions Flowchart (from the Homeless Persons Representation Project)

Renters in Maryland and COVID-19: FAQs (April 1, 2020) 

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Housing Legal Services

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Community Legal Services of Prince George’s County, Monday - Friday: 9:00am to 5:00pm, 240-391-6370 

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Disability Rights Maryland, Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm, 410-727-6352

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Homeless Persons Representation Project, Montgomery County, 410-387-3126

Baltimore: Monday - Thursday, 9am-2:30pm; Fridays 9am-1pm, call 410-364-4198; after hours call 410-685-6589

 

Maryland Legal Aid, Telephone Intake (phone and hours vary by location), Online intake

 

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, Monday-Thursday: 9am-12pm, 410-547-6537 or 800-510-0050, Online Intake

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Pro Bono Resource Center of MD

Homeowners at risk of tax sale: 443-703-3052

Immigrants in removal proceedings: 443-703-3054

Tenants with rent court cases pending in Baltimore City District Court: 443-703-3049

Consumers with pending cases in Baltimore City District Court or Prince George’s County District Court: 

443-703-3049

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Public Justice Center, 410-625-9409 or 866-625-9409

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St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center, Inc., Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm, 410-366-8550

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Other Resources

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Fair Development Roundtable Know Your Rights video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7Xm7puZowo&feature=youtu.be

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FAQ on Renters Rights during COVID: https://9ac3d582-6211-42bd-b50b-f6be674fa527.usrfiles.com/ugd/9ac3d5_ba9bc10a7f544b3d9579870e9dd35280.pdf

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Eviction Flowchart: https://9ac3d582-6211-42bd-b50b-f6be674fa527.usrfiles.com/ugd/9ac3d5_4adf1e04548e4bb3bc99037c4f46d9ea.pdf

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Maryland Legal Aid Housing/ Consumer Law One-Pager: https://www.mdlab.org/wp-content/uploads/Housing-Consumer-COVID-one-pager.pdf

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