Maryland Residential Lease Agreement Form
Maryland’s sturdy economy and proximity to big cities make it a popular place of residence for many Americans. If you’re looking to rent a house or apartment in this state, you should be familiar with the Maryland Residential Lease Agreement Form.
A residential lease agreement form is a standard contract between the landlord and tenant. It details the terms and conditions of how a leasable property is to be used in exchange for monthly payments.
Before signing on as a tenant, prospective tenants must submit a Maryland rental application form with a non-refundable application fee. The document allows the landlord to run a credit and employment check on a potential tenant.
If the landlord approves the application, the landlord will then stipulate the rent, payment due date, and other terms in the residential lease agreement form.
The lease agreement also describes the roles of the landlord and tenant. It is up to the landlord to ensure that the apartment is safe for occupancy. The tenant, on the other hand, must pay rent on time and should check that the property is in good condition. The form will also list the occupants of the real estate, including pets.
For the convenience of both parties, the fillable and printable form is available online.
Required Disclosures
Here are the required disclosures that your residential lease agreement form must include in Maryland:
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Agent/Landlord Identification - The landlord should disclose to the tenant the names of all authorized personnel who may have access to the building or rental unit.
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Lead-Based Paint Disclosure - Landlords must inform tenants if the property was built before 1978, the year the country banned lead-based paint. The landlord is also obliged to provide tenants with educational materials about the hazards of having lead-based paint on the walls and ceilings (Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule (Section 1018 of Title X)).
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Habitability - Landlords managing five or more units should inform tenants that the property is habitable and safe. It will be included in the lease agreement along with the landlord’s responsibility towards electricity, heat, and water, among others (MD. Real Property Code Ann. § 8-208 (2021)).
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Move-Out Inspection - The tenant has the right to be present during the landlord’s move-out inspection. The inspection will determine if there is property damage that is beyond normal wear and tear. If there is damage, the landlord will deduct the cost of the repair from the tenant’s security deposit.
Rent Grace Period
There are no statutory rent grace periods in Maryland. Landlords can charge the late fee a day after rent is due. However, there is a limit to how much the landlord can charge in late fees. They cannot be more than $3 a week or $12 a month.
Security Deposits
In Maryland, collecting security deposits is not required. If there is a security deposit, it should not amount to more than two months’ worth of rent. The landlord must also provide a receipt of the security deposit to the tenant and deposit the money in an interest-bearing bank account.
When the tenant moves out, the landlord has 45 days to return the security deposit or at least part of it. The landlord may deduct the cost of repairing property damage from the deposit as long as the damage is beyond regular wear and tear. The landlord may also withhold part of the security deposit if the tenant fails to pay rent (MD. Real Property Code Ann. § 8-203.1 (2021)).