HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                    1987

The Public Local Laws of Baltimore City
Section 9.9(d)(1), 9-14.1(b)(2) and 9-l4.2(a)(3)
Article 4 - Public Local Laws of Maryland
(1979 Edition and 1983 Supplement, as amended)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF

MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Real Property

8-211.

(a) The purpose of this section is to provide tenants with a
mechanism for encouraging the repair of serious and dangerous
defects which exist within or as part of any residential dwelling
unit, or upon the property used in common of which the dwelling
unit forms a part. The defects sought to be reached by this
section are those which present a substantial and serious threat
of danger to the life, health and safety of the occupants of the
dwelling unit, and not those which merely impair the aesthetic
value of the premises, or which are, in those locations governed
by such codes, housing code violations of a nondangerous nature.
The intent of this section is not to provide a remedy for
dangerous conditions in the community at large which exists apart
from the leased premises or the property in common of which the
leased premises forms a part.

(g) In order to employ the remedies provided by this
section, the tenant shall notify the landlord of the existence of
the defects or conditions. Notice shall be given by (1) a written
communication [sent by certified mail] listing the asserted

conditions or defects, or (2) ACTUAL NOTICE OF THE DEFECTS OR
CONDITIONS, OR (3) a written violation, condemnation or other
notice from an appropriate State, county, municipal or local
government agency stating the asserted conditions or defects.

Article 4 - Baltimore City

9.9.

(d) The assertion by the tenant, whether made by complaint
or answer, shall be conditioned upon the following;

(1) Prior to the commencement of the action by the
tenant or by the landlord, the landlord or his agent was notified
in writing by Certified Mail (return receipt) of the condition or
conditions described in subsection (b), above, or was notified of
such condition or conditions by a violation or condemnation
notice from an appropriate State or municipal agency, OR RECEIVED

ACTUAL NOTICE OF THE DEFECTS OR CONDITIONS, but that the landlord

has refused, or having a reasonable opportunity to do so, has
failed to remedy the same. For the purposes of this subsection,
what period of time shall be deemed to be unreasonable delay is
left to the discretion of the court except that there shall be a