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LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 977

Approved May 29, 1978.

CHAPTER 978

(Senate Bill 126)

AN ACT concerning

Landlord and Tenant - Deposits — Applications for Leases

FOR the purpose of requiring applications for leases to
contain certain information; requiring a landlord to
return, within a certain time, moneys deposited by a
prospective tenant and subject to certain deductions
in certain instances; providing for civil damages for
failure to comply; and providing for certain
exceptions.

BY adding to

Article - Real Property

Section 8-213

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1974 Volume and 1977 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article — Real Property

8-213.

(A)    AN APPLICATION FOR A LEASE SHALL CONTAIN A
STATEMENT WHICH EXPLAINS:

(1)    THE LIABILITIES WHICH THE TENANT INCURS
UPON SIGNING THE APPLICATION; AND

(2)    THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTIONS (B), (C), AND
(D) OF THIS SECTION.

(B)    (1) IF A LANDLORD REQUIRES FROM A PROSPECTIVE
TENANT ANY FEES OTHER THAN A SECURITY DEPOSIT AS DEFINED BY
SECTION 8-203(A) OF THIS SUBTITLE, AND THESE FEES EXCEED
$25, THEN THE LANDLORD SHALL RETURN THE FEES, SUBJECT TO THE
EXCEPTIONS BELOW, OR BE LIABLE FOR TWICE THE AMOUNT OF THE
FEES IN DAMAGES. THE RETURN SHALL BE MADE NOT LATER THAN 15
DAYS FOLLOWING THE DATE OF OCCUPANCY OR THE WRITTEN
COMMUNICATION, BY EITHER PARTY TO THE OTHER, OF A DECISION
THAT NO TENANCY SHALL OCCUR.

(2) THE LANDLORD MAY RETAIN ONLY THAT PORTION