§ 8-402.1. Proceedings upon breach of lease
West's Annotated Code of MarylandReal PropertyEffective: October 1, 2023
Effective: October 1, 2023
MD Code, Real Property, § 8-402.1
§ 8-402.1. Proceedings upon breach of lease
(a)(1)(i) Subject to § 8-406 of this subtitle and where an unexpired lease for a stated term provides that the landlord may repossess the premises prior to the expiration of the stated term if the tenant breaches the lease, the landlord may make complaint in writing to the District Court of the county where the premises is located if:
B. The breach of the lease involves behavior by a tenant or a person who is on the property with the tenant's consent, which demonstrates a clear and imminent danger of the tenant or person doing serious harm to themselves, other tenants, the landlord, the landlord's property or representatives, or any other person on the property and the landlord has given the tenant or person in possession 14 days' written notice that the tenant or person in possession is in violation of the lease and the landlord desires to repossess the leased premises; and
(b)(1) If the court determines that the tenant breached the terms of the lease and that the breach was substantial and warrants an eviction, the court shall give judgment for the restitution of the possession of the premises and issue its warrant to the sheriff or a constable commanding the tenant to deliver possession to the landlord in as full and ample manner as the landlord was possessed of the same at the time when the lease was entered into. The court shall give judgment for costs against the tenant or person in possession.
(2) Either party may appeal to the circuit court for the county, within ten days from entry of the judgment. If the tenant (i) files with the District Court an affidavit that the appeal is not taken for delay; (ii) files sufficient bond with one or more securities conditioned upon diligent prosecution of the appeal; (iii) pays all rent in arrears, all court costs in the case; and (iv) pays all losses or damages which the landlord may suffer by reason of the tenant's holding over, the tenant or person in possession of the premises may retain possession until the determination of the appeal. Upon application of either party, the court shall set a day for the hearing of the appeal not less than five nor more than 15 days after the application, and notice of the order for a hearing shall be served on the other party or that party's counsel at least five days before the hearing. If the judgment of the District Court is in favor of the landlord, a warrant shall be issued by the court which hears the appeal to the sheriff, who shall execute the warrant.
(c)(1) Acceptance of any payment after notice but before eviction shall not operate as a waiver of any notice of breach of lease or any judgment for possession unless the parties specifically otherwise agree in writing.
(2) Any payment accepted shall be first applied to the rent or the equivalent of rent apportioned to the date that the landlord actually recovers possession of the premises, then to court costs, including court awarded damages and legal fees and then to any loss of rent caused by the breach of lease.
(3) Any payment which is accepted in excess of the rent referred to in paragraph (2) of this subsection shall not bear interest but will be returned to the tenant in the same manner as security deposits as defined under § 8-203 of this title but shall not be subject to the penalties of that section.
Credits
Added by Acts 1978, c. 478. Amended by Acts 1982, c. 820, § 3; Acts 1987, c. 11, § 1; Acts 1996, c. 668, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1996; Acts 1999, c. 219, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, c. 649, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, c. 689, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2001; Acts 2001, c. 711, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2001; Acts 2023, c. 481, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2023; Acts 2023, c. 482, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2023.
MD Code, Real Property, § 8-402.1, MD REAL PROP § 8-402.1
Current through legislation effective through June 1, 2024, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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