1470                             Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 687

(1)    The conditions which formed the basis of the tenant's action
enumerated under subsection (b) hereof were caused by an act or
omission of the tenant or members of his family, or any invitee or
assignee thereof, beyond those acts [of] or omissions constituting
ordinary wear and tear; or

(2)    The landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession of the
property for his immediate and personal use as a dwelling; or

(3)    The landlord has contracted in good faith, in writing, to sell
the property for immediate personal use and occupancy as a dwelling
by the purchaser; or

(4)    The landlord must increase the rent due to a substantial
increase in taxes or a substantial increase in maintenance or operating
costs not associated with the condition or conditions for which rent
was properly withheld under Section 9-9 of the Code of the Public
Local Laws of Baltimore City, or the landlord has completed a sub-
stantial capital improvement of the leased premises or the property
of which the leased premises are a part and which improvement
benefits the leased premises; or

(5)    The Court finds that the landlord has brought an action or
proceeding to recover possession or has increased the rent for good
cause and not in retaliation for the exercise of actions enumerated
under subsection (b) hereof.

(d)    Waiver of tenant's rights 'prohibited.

Any provision of a lease or other agreement whereby any provision
of this section for the benefit of a tenant, resident, or occupant of a
dwelling is waived, shall be deemed against public policy and shall be
void.

(e)    Application to Housing Authority of Baltimore City.

This law and Section 9-9 of the Code of the Public Local Laws of
Baltimore City shall apply to any premises leased by the Housing
Authority of Baltimore City.¹]

9-9.

(a) Findings and purposes.

(1)    It is found and declared that there exist in the City of
Baltimore structures used for human habitation which are, or may
become in the future, substandard with respect to structure, equip-
ment or maintenance; and that such conditions constitute a menace
to the health, safety, welfare and reasonable comfort of its citizens.

(2)    It is further declared that in order to assure that dwellings
meet certain minimum requirements as established by this act tenants
must have the free, unemcumbered right of complaint to their land-
lords, the courts and governmental agencies.

(3)    It is further declared that retaliation, without cause, by land-
lords through eviction, rental increases or other action, and tenants'
fear of such retaliation, MAY have restricted the exercise of these
rights.

(4) It is therefore declared that the interests of public policy
require that meaningful sanctions be imposed upon those who would