5272

COUNTY LOCAL LAWS

Maryland, but not to any establishments which have as
their primary purpose the providing of diagnosis, cure,
mitigation, and treatment of illnesses, or to dwelling
units owned by a person who owns less than three dwelling
units in Montgomery County, or to dwelling units which
are part of Federal government assisted multi—family
housing projects and which require accountability of rent
returns to the Federal government, or to the initial
leasing period of new dwelling units, although it does
apply thereafter; to provide that the system of rent
control shall not apply to any adjustment in rent as the
result of any contractual provision entered into prior to
February 28, 1973, or permitted by Article III prior to
the effective date of this Act; to provide that upon the
creation or re—imposition of Federal or State rent
controls it shall be considered whether those controls
shall replace those of Montgomery County or whether local
controls shall be in addition to Federal or State
controls; to provide that the system of rent control
shall not apply to contractual provisions entered into
prior to February 28, 1973, or as permitted by Article VI
prior to the effective date of this Act; to provide for
the adjustment of rents; to provide for a basic rent
increase of four percent of the base rent of a dwelling
unit for holdover tenants wherein the rent payment
includes the cost of all utilities except telephone
service; to provide, upon request, for an extraordinary
rent increase for holdover tenants in excess of four
percent of the base rent for a dwelling unit if certain
procedures are followed; to provide that the Executive
Director shall either approve or disapprove or modify a
request for an extraordinary rent increase by written
findings, opinions and orders; to provide that the
Executive Director of the Office of Landlord—Tenant
Affairs or his designee shall initially, without a
hearing, pass upon a request for an extraordinary rent
increase; to provide that a hearing on a request for an
extraordinary rent increase shall be held by the
Executive Director if the Executive Director cannot make
a decision upon the request or if he deems it necessary
or upon the appeal of a person aggrieved by his initial
decision; to provide that upon the hearing by the
Executive Director on his initial decision a person
aggrieved may appeal to the Commission on Landlord—Tenant
Affairs; to provide that the Commission on
Landlord—Tenant Affairs may either summarily affirm the
action of the Executive Director without a hearing or
schedule and conduct a hearing on the said action and
reverse, modify or affirm it; to provide that upon the
summary affirmance or hearing by the Commission on
Landlord—Tenant Affairs a person aggrieved may appeal
such action to the Circuit Court for Montgomery County,
Maryland; to provide that the landlord requesting the
extraordinary rent increase file with the Office of