How Renters/Tenants Can Get Help With Landlord Disputes

How to handle unsafe Housing And Rental Repairs

If you have a serious or dangerous defect in your apartment or rented building, tenants have certain rights because landlords have certain obligations under the law.

You may be able to:

• Use an escrow account if established by the District Court.
• Get an injunction.

Escrow account

If the District Court establishes an escrow account, you deposit rent money instead of paying the landlord rent each month. However, there are specific conditions and notice requirements for which you can use the escrow account.

While the court will decide if a situation warrants an escrow account, it’s typically used for serious and dangerous defects. This may include but is not limited:

• rodent infestation in two or more units
• lead-based paint hazard
• lack of adequate sewage disposal
• lack of heat, light, electricity or water if the landlord is responsible for keeping it on.

It does not cover lack of air conditioning, normal wear and tear or other non-dangerous housing code violations.

Learn about rent escrow https://oag.maryland.gov/i-need-to/Pages/landlord-tenant-disputes.aspx

Injunction

An injunction may be another option. That is a petition to have the court order the landlord to repair or fix the concerning conditions.