MARVIN MANDEL, Governor

2325

law or ordinance supercedes this Act; and generally
relating to landlord—tenant relationships and a
system of rent escrow.

BY adding to

Article — Real Property

Section 8-211

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1974 Volume and 1974 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Section 8-211 be and it is hereby
added to Article — Real Property, of the Annotated Code
of Maryland (1974 Volume and 1974 Supplement) to read as
follows:

Article — Real Property

8-211.

(A)    THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION IS TO PROVIDE
TENANTS WITH A MECHANISM FOR ENCOURAGING THE REPAIR OF
SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS DEFECTS WHICH EXIST WITHIN OR AS
PART OF ANY RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNIT, OR UPON THE
PROPERTY USED IN COMMON OF WHICH THE DWELLING UNIT FORMS
A PART. THE DEFECTS SOUGHT TO BE REACHED BY THIS SECTION
ARE THOSE WHICH PRESENT A SUBSTANTIAL AND SERIOUS THREAT
OF DANGER TO THE LIFE, HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS
OF THE DWELLING UNIT, AND NOT THOSE WHICH MERELY IMPAIR
THE AESTHETIC VALUE OF THE PREMISES, OR WHICH ARE, IN
THOSE LOCATIONS GOVERNED BY SUCH CODES, HOUSING CODE
VIOLATIONS OF A NON-DANGEROUS NATURE. THE INTENT OF THIS
SECTION IS NOT TO PROVIDE A REMEDY FOR DANGEROUS
CONDITIONS IN THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE WHICH EXISTS APART
FROM THE LEASED PREMISES OR THE PROPERTY IN COMMON OF
WHICH THE LEASED PREMISES FORMS A PART.

(B)    IT IS THE PUBLIC POLICY OF MARYLAND THAT
MEANINGFUL SANCTIONS BE IMPOSED UPON THOSE WHO ALLOW
DANGEROUS CONDITIONS AND DEFECTS TO EXIST IN LEASED
PREMISES, AND THAT AN EFFECTIVE MECHANISM BE ESTABLISHED
FOR REPAIRING THESE CONDITIONS AND HALTING THEIR
CREATION.

(C)    THIS SECTION APPLIES TO RESIDENTIAL DWELLING
UNITS LEASED FOR THE PURPOSE OF HUMAN [[HABITATAION]]
HABITATION WITHIN THE STATE OF MARYLAND. THIS SECTION
DOES NOT APPLY TO FARM TENANCIES.

(D) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO ALL APPLICABLE
DWELLING UNITS WHETHER THEY ARE (1) PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY