The PHED Committee hearing was originally scheduled for last November. However, the landlords' association asked for a postponement in order to discuss their objections.



State Delegates Sheila Hixson, Tom Hucker et al, Co-Sponsor Bill to Establish State-Wide Rent Stabilization and Just-Cause Eviction Protection for Renters

Non Judicial Eviction Law Also Under Consideration

State Delegate Sheila Hixson has introduced legislation to establish just-cause eviction and rent stabilization protection for all Maryland renters. The legislation, Hous

2013 Voluntary Rent Increase Guideline Posted



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The PHED committee has announced that it will discuss Council Member Marc Elrich's rent stabilization proposa l along with County Executive Isiah Leggett's proposal t o publicize landlords who excessively raise rents above the County's Voluntary Rent Increase Guidelines and the implementation of mandatory rental data collection onRenters and supporters of these measure are encouraged to demonstrate their support by attending this public meeting. Please RSVP HERE. Hixson, who attended the Renters Alliance regional meeting in Bethesda last December said she was growing more concerned that so many renters were facing excessive rent increases while living in fear of retaliatory eviction for demanding promised services like building maintenance and security. "The Montgomery County renter population has grown by leaps and bounds in the last dozen years and so have rent increases," said Hixson. "If we are all to benefit from stable communities, where children can go to school without interruption, where workers can live near their jobs and seniors can plan for a long and stable retirement, we are going to have to take renter protections seriously, not just in Montgomery County, but in every part of Maryland." According to the U.S. Census, more than 30% of County residents live in rental housing.Hixson's bill immediately attracted supporters, but has a long way to go. Delegate Tom Hucker , a champion for renters, was one of the bills first co-sponsors.Other co-sponsors include: Delegates Ana Sol Gutierrez Eric Leudke and Bonnie Cullison. Hixson expects additional co-sponsors to sign on as the bill moves through the 24 members of the Environmental Matters committee which overseas housing legislation. A committee hearing on this legislation is scheduled for. Unknown to most Marylanders, landlords won a shocking victory in 2012 with Nickens versus Mount Vernon Realty Group, et al, 429 Md. 53 (2012) . The decision in this case gave landlords the power to proceed with an eviction without court process ( See Fact Sheet ). In other words, they can now lock out a tenant when the tenant is not home. While a relatively rare ocurance, hundreds of complaints are being registered. The Public Justice Center' s Rental Housing Coalition, which includes the Renters Alliance, is urging the state legislature to support HB1308 and its companion in the senate SB642. Hearings will be held March 6th and 7th respectively. If you have experienced a non judicial eviction, or know someone who has, please contact Matt Hill, staff attorney at the PJC. The Renters Alliance believes landlords should be mandated to follow due process of law through the courts when choosing to evict a tenant.The Renters voice is being heard. How loud depends on each renter getting involvedVolunteer with us. Invite the Renters Alliance to your building. Organize a tenants association. We are building a movement that will protect all of our communities.The Department of Housing and Community Development has posted the 2013 Voluntary Rent Increase Guideline at 4%. The 2012 VRIG was 2.8% signifying an improving economy for some, and increased rental costs for County renters.According to Maryland State Law, for tenants living in multi-family apartment buildings, it is the landlord's responsibility to exterminate pests, including bed bugs. Recently, two renters raised the issue of a clause in their lease that stated they would be responsible for the cost of extermination if their apartment was found to contain bed bugs or other pests. According to Maryland Landlord Tenant law , Section D, landlords are responsible for pest extermination except for those renting a house:

(D) Extermination

(1) All Structures. If necessary, the property owner shall be responsible for extermination within the structure and on the premises before renting or leasing the structure.

(2) Single Occupancy. The tenant of a structure containing a single housing unit shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents, or other pests in the structure or the premises.

(3) Multiple Occupancy. Each property owners or operator of a structure containing two or more housing units shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents, or other pests in the structure or on the premises except where infestation within a housing unit is caused by a failure of the tenant to take reasonable action to prevent the infestation within the housing unit.



