HARRY HUGHES, Governor

4313

AN ACT concerning

Landlord and Tenant - Rent Escrow

FOR the purpose of providing that in certain landlord-tenant
actions in which a party prays a jury trial, the
District Court shall order that rents be paid tenant
shall pay certain rents into a certain escrow account;
providing a sanction for failure to pay rents into the
escrow account; and providing for distribution of the
account upon final disposition of the action.

BY adding to

Article - Real Property

Section 8-118

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1974 Volume and 1981 Supplement)

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

Article - Real Property

8-118.

(A)   IN AN ACTION UNDER § 8-401 OR, § 8-402, OR §
8-402.1 OF THIS ARTICLE IN WHICH A PARTY PRAYS A JURY TRIAL,
THE DISTRICT COURT SHALL ENTER AN ORDER DIRECTING THE TENANT
OR ANYONE HOLDING UNDER THE TENANT TO SHALL PAY ALL ACCRUED
AND UNPAID RENTS, AND ALL RENTS DUE AND AS THEY COME DUE
DURING THE PENDENCY OF THE. ACTION, AS PRESCRIBED IN
SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION.

(B)  THE DISTRICT COURT SHALL ORDER THAT THE RENTS BE
PAID THE TENANT SHALL PAY RENTS INTO THE REGISTRY OF AN
ESCROW ACCOUNT OF:

(1) THE COURT EXERCISING JURISDICTION IN THE
CASE; OR

(1)  THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OR THE
APPROPRIATE COURT OF THE SUPREME BENCH OF BALTIMORE CITY; OR

(2)   IF DIRECTED BY THE CLERK, AN ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENCY OF ANY THE COUNTY WHICH IS EMPOWERED BY LOCAL LAW TO
HOLD RENTS IN ESCROW PENDING INVESTIGATION AND DISPOSITION
OF COMPLAINTS BY TENANTS.

(C)   IN AN ACTION UNDER § 8-401, § 8-402, OR § 8-402.1
OF THIS ARTICLE, IF THE TENANT OR ANYONE HOLDING UNDER THE
TENANT FAILS TO PAY RENT ACCRUED OR AS IT COMES DUE WITHIN