Maryland Rental Application Form
Maryland is a great place to live because it offers several outdoor activities and a strong economy. People eyeing a residential rental property in the Old Line State must submit a Maryland Rental Application Form. The form must be given to a prospective landlord if a prospective tenant wants to be considered for tenancy in a certain property.
What is in a rental application form? The template provides a brief description of the property, indicating the type of residence, its size, number of rooms, and location. More than half of the standard form will contain information about the applicant, so interested parties need to be ready with their personal information. In addition, the form will ask applicants about their employment and tenancy record.
Ultimately, the details on the form will help a landlord decide if an applicant has the capacity to pay rent. The rental application form helps the landlord by enabling them to perform a credit check and see if an applicant has any history of eviction.
Lessees must know their rights based on the Federal Fair Housing Act. The law states that their application cannot be rejected based on their race, country of origin, gender, familial situation, religion, and disability. Since the application comes with a non-refundable fee, the landlord should collect a uniform fee from all applicants.
Rental Application Fee
In Maryland, a landlord may charge a non-refundable application fee of $25. If they charge more than $25, the landlord is required to return the unused amount during the processing of the application. The applicant also has the right to ask for an itemized list of expenses incurred during the landlord’s background check (MD. Real Property Code Ann. § 8-213 (2021)).
Security Deposits
In the state of Maryland, the maximum security deposit that a landlord can charge a tenant is equivalent to two months’ rent. The landlord should provide a receipt of the security deposit together with the written lease. The amount should also be deposited to a federal institution so that it will gain interest.
When the lease ends, the landlord has 45 days to return the security deposit along with the interest unless there are reasons to withhold it or part of it. The landlord may deduct unpaid rent, outstanding utility bills, and any damage to the property that is outside of natural wear and tear.
During the move-out inspection for property damage, the tenant has the right to be present (MD. Real Property Code Ann. § 8-203.1 (2021)).