MONTGOMERY COUNTY

3243

definitions to increase the allowable rate of basic
rent increases for holdover tenants; to clarify the
meaning of new dwelling units; to specify effective
dates for basic rent increases; to provide a system
of alternative rent increases for holdover tenants
whereby certain utility costs and other costs may be
passed on as increased rent without the need for
applying for an extraordinary rent increase; to
specify the conditions and procedures for an
alternative rent increase for holdover tenants; to
specify a procedure for extraordinary rent increases
for holdover tenants in the event a basic rent
increase or an alternative rent increase would be
inadequate, and to require that extraordinary rent
increase applications be under oath or affirmation
to be accepted for filing; to increase the allowable
basic rent increase for holdover tenants who
directly pay utility costs; to provide for
subsequent rent adjustments based on a percentage of
the Inflation Index for consumer prices and utility
costs; to specify a time for subsequent rent
adjustments after either a basic rent increase, an
alternative rent increase, or an extraordinary rent
increase; to specify notice requirements applicable
to rent adjustments; to require tenants subject to
an extraordinary rent increase to pay a certain
portion of that increase into an interest—bearing
escrow account established by a landlord in the
event the application for an extraordinary rent
increase is not approved prior to its effective
date; to provide for repayment with interest to a
tenant of any amount paid in excess of the allowable
rent increase following final action thereon by the
Executive Director, subject to repayment to the
landlord if ordered by the Court; to specify
obligations of landlord applicants and rights and
obligations of affected tenants and associations and
organizations with respect to applications for
extraordinary rent increases; to specify procedures
for processing extraordinary rent increase
applications whereby the Executive Director of the
Office of Landlord—Tenant Affairs shall, if a
hearing is held, utilize the services of the Hearing
Examiner; to specify the procedure for the conduct
of a hearing; to provide for hearings by the
Executive Director if the Hearing Examiner is
precluded or unable to conduct hearings on
extraordinary rent increase applications; to provide
that a decision of. the Executive Director on an
extraordinary rent increase application may be but
shall not be required to be referred to the
Commission on Landlord-Tenant Affairs for review and
oral argument; to provide for an appeal to the
courts, including the Maryland Appellate Courts,
from a final decision of the Executive Director on
an extraordinary rent increase application; to
require discussions by the Commission to be
conducted in public session; to provide for final