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 Montgomery County
 Code
 Part II. Local Laws, Ordinances, Resolutions, Etc.
 Chapter 29. Landlord-Tenant Relations. [Note]
 Article VI. Central Data Collection and Rent Guidelines.[Note]

  § 29-55. Rent increases during state of emergency - prohibited.  

Latest version.
  • (a) Definitions. In this Section, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
    Emergency means the catastrophic health emergency declared by the Governor of Maryland on March 5, 2020, as amended or extended by the Governor, under Section 14-3A-02 of the Public Safety Article of the Maryland Code.
    Tenant has the meaning stated in Section 29-1. Tenant includes an existing tenant. Tenant does not include a prospective tenant.
    (b) Rent increases above guidelines – when prohibited. A landlord must not increase a tenant’s rent to an amount that exceeds the voluntary rent guidelines under Section 29-53 if:
    (1) the rent increase would take effect during an emergency; or
    (2) notice of the rent increase does not comply with subsection (c) and Section 29-54.
    (c) Notices of rent adjustments.
    (1) During an emergency and within 90 days after the expiration of an emergency, a landlord must not notify a tenant of a rent increase if the increase would exceed the voluntary rent guidelines under Section 29-53.
    (2) If a landlord provided notice of a rent increase to a tenant prior to the emergency and the increase would exceed the voluntary rent guidelines under Section 29-53, the landlord must inform the tenant in writing:
    (A) to disregard the notice; or
    (B) that the increase is amended to be less than or equal to the voluntary rent guidelines under Section 29-53.
    (d) Notice of expiration of emergency. The Department must post on its website information about the requirements of this Section, including the date that an emergency expires, and the date that is 90 days after the expiration of the emergency. (2020 L.M.C., ch. 14, §1.)
    Editor’s note—2020 L.M.C., ch. 14, §§3 and 4 state: Sec. 3. Sunset date. This Act must expire, and must have no further force or effect, upon the 181st day following the expiration of the catastrophic health emergency declared by the Governor of Maryland on March 5, 2020, as amended or extended by the Governor.
    Sec. 4. Short title. This Act may be cited as the “COVID-19 Renter Relief Act”.