1496                                    LAWS OF MARYLAND                                 Ch. 246

11-140.

THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND IS TO
FACILITATE THE ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT OF CONDOMINIUMS IN
MARYLAND. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECOGNIZES, HOWEVER, THAT
THE CONVERSION OF RENTAL DWELLINGS TO CONDOMINIUMS CAN HAVE
AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE AVAILABILITY OF RENTAL UNITS,
RESULTING IN THE DISPLACEMENT OF TENANTS.

(A)  A COUNTY, BALTIMORE CITY, OR INCORPORATED
MUNICIPALITY MAY, BY LEGISLATIVE FINDING, RECOGNIZE AND
DECLARE THAT A RENTAL HOUSING EMERGENCY EXISTS IN ALL OR
PART OF ITS JURISDICTION AND HAS BEEN CAUSED BY THE
CONVERSION OF RENTAL HOUSING TO CONDOMINIUMS. THE
JURISDICTION SHALL CONSIDER AND MAKE FINDINGS AS TO:

(1)  THE NATURE AND INCIDENCE OF CONDOMINIUM
CONVERSIONS;

(2)  THE RESULTING HARDSHIP TO AND DISPLACEMENT
OF TENANTS; AND

(3)  THE SCARCITY OF RENTAL HOUSING.

(B)  UPON FINDING AND DECLARATION OF A RENTAL HOUSING
EMERGENCY CAUSED BY THE CONVERSION OF RENTAL HOUSING TO
CONDOMINIUMS, A COUNTY, BALTIMORE CITY, OR AN INCORPORATED
MUNICIPALITY MAY BY THE ENACTMENT OF LAWS, ORDINANCES, AND
REGULATIONS, TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS TO MEET THE
EMERGENCY:

(1) GRANT A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL TO THE LOCAL

JURISDICTION OR ITS HOUSING AGENCY. THE RIGHT OF FIRST

REFUSAL SHALL BE LIMITED TO ANY UNITS AVAILABLE WITHIN THE
20 PERCENT SET ASIDE UNDER §11-137 OF THIS TITLE WHICH ARE
NOT TAKEN UNDER AN EXTENDED LEASE BY A DESIGNATED FAMILY
WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE DEVELOPER'S ISSUANCE OF A NOTICE OF

INTENT TO CREATE A CONDOMINIUM. THE LOCAL JURISDICTION

SHALL EXERCISE ITS RIGHT WITHIN 60 DAYS FOLLOWING THE
EXPIRATION OF THAT DATE.

(2) (1) GRANT TO A DESIGNATED FAMILY AS DEFINED
IN SECTION 11-137 OF THIS TITLE A RIGHT TO AN EXTENDED LEASE
UNDER §11-137 OF THIS TITLE TO ANY OTHER DESIGNATED TENANTS
FOR A PERIOD IN ADDITION TO THAT PERIOD PROVIDED FOR IN
SECTION 11-137 OF THIS TITLE. THE RIGHT TO AN EXTENDED
LEASE MAY NOT, IN ANY EVENT, RESULT IN A REQUIREMENT THAT A
DEVELOPER SET ASIDE FOR AN EXTENDED LEASE MORE THAN 20
PERCENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS.

(3) (2) OTHERWISE EXTEND ANY OF THE PROVISIONS
OF §11-137 OF THIS TITLE EXCEPT THAT:

(I) MORE THAN 20 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL
NUMBER OF UNITS MAY NOT BE REQUIRED TO BE SET ASIDE.; AND