2556                                               LAWS OF MARYLAND                         [Ch. 741

Limitations on Residential Rental Fee Increases

FOR the purpose of imposing certain limitations on the
power of certain landlords to increase their rental
fees; providing a certain definition; providing
certain exceptions to the limitations; providing
when this Act shall be superseded; authorizing local
governments to enact measures concerning rental
fees, which measures shall supersede this Act;
providing a severability clause; providing for the
effect of this Act on units which are vacant on the
effective date of this Act or which become vacant
thereafter; providing that increases in certain
costs may be added to the rental fee; providing
certain enforcement procedures when this Act is
violated; [[providing a penalty for violation of
this Act;]] excepting application of the provisions
of Dorchester and Charles Counties; and providing
that the provisions of this Act shall expire on July
1, 1975, without further action by the General
Assembly; and exempting Worcester County from the
provisions of this Act.

BY adding to

Article - Real Property

Section 8-209

Annotated Code of Maryland

(As enacted by Chapter 12 (S.B. 200) of the

1974 Regular Session of the General Assembly)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Section 8—209 be and it is hereby
added to Article — Real Property of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (as enacted by Chapter 12 (S.B. 200) of the 1974
Regular Session of the General Assembly) to read as
follows:

Article — Real Property
8-209.

(A)    FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM
"UNIT" MEANS AN APARTMENT, TOWNHOUSE, HOUSE, MOBILE HOME
OR MOBILE HOME LOT.

(B)    NO LANDLORD RENTING FOUR OR WORE UNITS MAY
INCREASE ANY RENTAL FEE FOP ANY RESIDENTIAL PREMISES OR
FOR THE PART OF ANY PREMISES WHICH IS USED AS A RESIDENCE
BEYOND AN AMOUNT WHICH IS FIVE PERCENT (5%) OF THE RENTAL
FEE WHICH WAS IN EFFECT ON JULY 1, 1974, EXCEPT AS