HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                 655

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1979.

Approved May 1, 1979.

CHAPTER 118

(Senate Bill 482)

AN ACT concerning

Landlord and Tenant - Repossession

FOR the purpose of providing that a certain means of service
of process is sufficient to support the awarding of
court costs in favor of the landlord when a default
judgment has been entered in favor of that landlord for
possession of the premises in cases when a tenant has
failed to pay rent; and deleting the reference to costs
with regard to a default judgment in favor of the
landlord for the amount of rent due.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Real Property
Section 8-401(b)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1974 Volume and 1978 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be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows: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

8-401.

(b) Whenever any landlord shall desire to repossess
any premises to which he is entitled under the provisions of
§ 8-401 (a), he or his duly qualified agent or attorney,
shall make his written complaint under oath or affirmation,
before the District Court of the county wherein the property
is situated, describing in general terms the property sought
to be repossessed, and also setting forth the name of the
tenant to whom the property is rented or his assignee or
subtenant with the amount of rent due and unpaid; and
praying by warrant to repossess the premises, together with
judgment for the amount of rent due and costs. The District
Court shall issue its summons, directed to any constable or
sheriff of the county entitled to serve process, and
ordering him to notify by first-class mail the tenant,
assignee, or subtenant to appear before the District Court
at the trial to be held on the fifth day after the filing of