26                                       LAWS OF MARYLAND                                 Ch. 2

(19)  Section 10-402 shall apply to options recorded before or after the effective
date.

(20)  Section 14-103 shall apply to all sales therein mentioned which occur on or
after the effective date.

(21)  Section 14-111 shall apply to all proceedings commenced on or after the
effective date.

SEC. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Sections 11 and 12 of
Chapter 649 of the 1971 Laws of Maryland be and they are hereby repealed and
re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

11.  And be it further enacted, That THE PROVISIONS OF this Act shall not
be deemed impliedly or expressly to repeal all or any part of any statute contained in
the Annotated Code of Maryland ON JULY 1, 1971, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN
SECTION 12 HEREOF.

12.  And be it further enacted, That if any provision of public general or public
local law or of county or municipal corporation charter, ordinance or resolution or
of any other law whatsoever is interpreted as having granted ANY county,
municipal corporation or other subdivision the authority to enact legislation on the
subjects covered by this Act, such provision is hereby repealed to the extent of such
grant of authority from and after July 1, 1971 and no county, municipal
corporation or other subdivision shall therafter have the power to enact legislation
on such subjects.

SEC. 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That new Section 8-213 be and
it is hereby added to Article 21 of said Code (1972 Interim Supplement), "Real
Property," title "Landlord and Tenant," subtitle "Miscellaneous Rules," to follow
immediately after Section 8-212 thereof, and to read as follows:

8-213.

(A)    A SECURITY DEPOSIT IS ANY PAYMENT OF MONEY,
INCLUDING THE PAYMENT OF THE LAST MONTH'S RENT IN
ADVANCE OF THE TIME IT IS DUE, GIVEN TO A LANDLORD BY A
TENANT IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE LANDLORD AGAINST
NONPAYMENT OF RENT OR DAMAGE TO THE LEASED PREMISES.

(B)  A LANDLORD SHALL NOT IMPOSE A SECURITY DEPOSIT IN
EXCESS OF THE EQUIVALENT OF TWO MONTHS' RENT, OR $50.00,
WHICHEVER IS GREATER, PER DWELLING UNIT, REGARDLESS OF
THE NUMBER OF TENANTS.

(I)  IF A LANDLORD CHARGES MORE THAN THE EQUIVALENT
OF TWO MONTHS' RENT, OR $50.00, WHICHEVER IS GREATER, PER
DWELLING UNIT AS A SECURITY DEPOSIT, THE TENANT HAS THE
RIGHT TO RECOVER UP TO THREEFOLD THE EXTRA AMOUNT SO
CHARGED, PLUS REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES.

(II)  AN ACTION UNDER THIS SECTION MAY BE BROUGHT AT
ANY TIME DURING THE TENANCY, OR WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER
ITS TERMINATION.

(III)   THIS SECTION SHALL ONLY APPLY TO THOSE LEASES
ENTERED INTO, RENEGOTIATED, OR RENEWED AFTER JULY 1, 1972.