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COUNTY LOCAL LAWS

93A-1. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.

THE COUNTY COUNCIL FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY HEREBY
FINDS THAT THERE IS OFTEN UNEQUAL BARGAINING POWER
BETWEEN LANDLORDS AND TENANTS; THAT THE COMMON LAW
PRINCIPLES PURSUANT TO WHICH LEASES ARE INTERPRETED AS
GRANTS OF RIGHT OF POSSESSION RATHER THAN MUTUAL AND
DEPENDENT COVENANTS EVOLVED IN AN AGRICULTURAL SETTING
AND ARE ILL-SUITED TO THE MODERN RESIDENTIAL SETTING
OF THIS URBAN COUNTY; THAT IN ORDER TO FACILITATE FAIR
AND EQUITABLE ARRANGEMENTS, FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF
HOUSING WHICH WILL MEET THE MINIMUM STANDARDS OF THE
PRESENT DAY, AND PROMOTE THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND
WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE, IT IS NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE
THAT THE COUNTY PROVIDE A COMMISSION AND OFFICE TO
DETERMINE CERTAIN MINIMUM RIGHTS AND REMEDIES,
OBLIGATIONS AND PROHIBITIONS, FOR LANDLORDS AND
TENANTS OF CERTAIN KINDS OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.

93A-2. PURPOSES AND POLICIES.

(A) THIS CHAPTER SHALL BE LIBERALLY CONSTRUED
AND APPLIED TO PROMOTE ITS UNDERLYING PURPOSES AND
POLICIES.

(E) THE UNDERLYING PURPOSES AND POLICIES OF THIS
CHAPTER ARE:

(I)     TO SIMPLIFY ARE CLARIFY THE LAW
GOVERNING THE RENTAL OF DWELLING UNITS;

(II)  TO ENCOURAGE LANDLORDS AND TENANTS TO
MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF HOUSING IN
THIS COUNTY;

(III)   TO ASSURE FAIR AND EQUITABLE
RELATIONS BETWEEN LANDLORDS AND TENANTS; AND

(IV)    TO REVISE AND MODERNIZE THE LAW OF
LANDLORD AND TENANT TO SERVE MORE REALISTICALLY
THE NEEDS OF AN URBAN SOCIETY DEVELOPING WITHIN
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND.

93A-3. APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER.

SUBJECT TO ANY PUBLIC GENERAL STATE LAWS TO THE
CONTRARY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO ARTICLE 53 OF
THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND, THIS CHAPTER SHALL
REGULATE AND DETERMINE LEGAL RIGHTS, REMEDIES AND