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§ 8-204. Covenant of possession of leased premises

West's Annotated Code of MarylandReal Property

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Real Property (Refs & Annos)
Title 8. Landlord and Tenant (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 2. Residential Leases (Refs & Annos)
MD Code, Real Property, § 8-204
§ 8-204. Covenant of possession of leased premises
Application of section
(a) This section is applicable only to single or multi-family dwelling units.
Covenant of possession
(b) A landlord shall assure the tenant that the tenant, peaceably and quietly, may enter on the leased premises at the beginning of the term of any lease.
Failure to deliver possession of dwelling
(c) If the landlord fails to provide the tenant with possession of the dwelling unit at the beginning of the term of any lease, the rent payable under the lease shall abate until possession is delivered. The tenant, on written notice to the landlord before possession is delivered, may terminate, cancel, and rescind the lease.
Liability of landlord for prepaid rent, deposit, or security
(d) On termination of the lease under this section, the landlord is liable to the tenant for all money or property given as prepaid rent, deposit, or security.
Consequential damages
(e) If the landlord fails to provide the tenant with possession of the dwelling unit at the beginning of the term of any lease, whether or not the lease is terminated under this section, the landlord is liable to the tenant for consequential damages actually suffered by the tenant subsequent to the tenant's giving notice to the landlord of the tenant's inability to enter on the leased premises.
Eviction actions for holdover tenants
(f) The landlord may bring an action of eviction and damages against any tenant holding over after the end of the tenant's term even though the landlord has entered into a lease with another tenant, and the landlord may join the new tenant as a party to the action.

Credits

Added by Acts 1974, c. 12, § 2, eff. July 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1986, c. 5, § 1; Acts 1999, c. 219, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1999.
Formerly Art. 21, § 8-218.
MD Code, Real Property, § 8-204, MD REAL PROP § 8-204
Current with legislation effective through June 1, 2023, from the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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