SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 1999.

Approved May 27, 1999.

CHAPTER 675
(House Bill 971)

AN ACT concerning

Real Property - Landlord and Tenant - Back Rent

FOR the purpose of limiting the amount of back rent a certain person may recover in
a suit, action, or proceeding for back rent of certain leased property; prohibiting
the recovery of attorney's fees in a certain claim for back rent of certain leased

property unless expressly provided in a lease or by a court order; providing for
the application of this Act; and generally relating to a suit, action, or proceeding
for back rent of certain leased property.

BY adding to

Article - Real Property

Section 8-111.1

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1996 Replacement Volume and 1998 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Real Property

8-111.1.

(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO ALL RESIDENTIAL LEASES OR SUBLEASES IN
EFFECT ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 1, 1999, WHICH HAVE AN INITIAL TERM OF 99 YEARS
AND WHICH CREATE A LEASEHOLD ESTATE, OR SUBLEASEHOLD ESTATE, SUBJECT
TO THE PAYMENT OF AN ANNUAL GROUND RENT.

(B) IN ANY SUIT, ACTION, OR PROCEEDING BY A LANDLORD, OR THE
TRANSFEREE OF THE REVERSION IN LEASED PROPERTY, TO RECOVER BACK RENT,
THE LANDLORD, OR THE TRANSFEREE OF THE REVERSION IN LEASED PROPERTY.

(1) IS ENTITLED TO DEMAND OR RECOVER NOT MORE THAN 3 YEARS
BACK RENT; AND

(2) UNLESS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THE LEASE OR ORDERED BY A
COURT, IS NOT ENTITLED TO RECOVER ATTORNEY'S FEES FROM THE TENANT OR
ASSIGNEE OF A LEASE.