5278

COUNTY LOCAL LAWS

Base rent, for the purposes of this Article only,
shall mean the rent charged (converted to a monthly
basis) for a dwelling unit for the month of September,
1973, or, if the dwelling unit was not rented for that
month, the base rent shall be the amount of rent last
charged (converted to a monthly basis) for that dwelling
unit, prior to September, 1973. The base rent for new
dwelling units, as defined in Section 29—49c, shall be
the rent charged (converted to a monthly basis) for such
a dwelling unit during its initial leasing period.

Basic rent increase shall mean an increase in rent
as authorized by Section 29—51a of this Chapter.

Comparable dwelling unit shall mean a dwelling unit
within the same rental facility with essentially the same
floor plan, and similarly situated with respect to
exposure and height (if rent differences have previously
existed for exposure or height). As to one—family
dwellings, semi—detached dwellings and town houses,
comparable dwelling unit shall mean a dwelling unit
within the same marketing area and of essentially the
same size with essentially the same floor plan.

Dwelling unit, for the purposes of this Article
only, shall include one—family dwellings, semi-detached
dwellings, and town houses as defined by Section 59—1 of
Chapter 59 of the Montgomery County Code 1972, as
amended, which are owned by landlords who own three or
more such dwelling units located in Montgomery County.
The foregoing definition shall be in addition to that
provided by Section 29—4 of this Chapter.

Dwelling unit, for the purpose of this Article only,
shall also include a housing unit, including personal
property such as a mobile home or a house boat, located
in Montgomery County when offered for lease as a place of
abode rather than as temporary lodging. It also includes
real property upon which the housing unit is situated (or
is to be situated if that unit is personal property) and
which is necessary for the convenient use of the dwelling
unit, and property owned by the landlord of the dwelling
unit, which is available for use by the tenant in
connection with his use of the dwelling unit, and for
which he must pay rent under the lease. A hotel or
similar establishment may contain both dwelling units and
temporary lodging units. The foregoing definition shall
also be in addition to that provided by Section 29—4 of
this Chapter.

Enter into a lease shall mean to execute a written
lease, enter into an oral lease (when permitted by this
Chapter), create an implied lease, or renew a lease,
regardless of duration.