Title 8. Landlord and Tenant — Subtitle 5. Tenant Remedies
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 8-501 (2026)
Title 8. Landlord and Tenant
Subtitle 5. Tenant Remedies
§ 8–501LinkCopy Citation
No written agreement between a landlord and tenant shall provide for a longer notice period to be furnished by the tenant to the landlord in order to terminate the tenancy than that required of the landlord to the tenant in order to terminate the tenancy.
Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 8-502 (2026)
Title 8. Landlord and Tenant
Subtitle 5. Tenant Remedies
§ 8–502LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)
(i)
“Court record” means an official record of a court proceeding kept by the clerk of the court or other court personnel.
(ii)
“Court record” includes:
(1)
An index, a docket entry, a petition, a memorandum, a transcription of proceedings, an electronic recording, an order, and a judgment; and
(2)
Any electronic information about a proceeding on a website maintained by the Maryland Judiciary.
(3)
“Shield” means to remove information from public inspection in accordance with this section.
(4)
“Shielding” means:
(i)
With respect to a record kept in a courthouse, removing the record to a separate secure area to which persons who do not have a legitimate reason for access are denied access; and
(ii)
With respect to electronic information about a proceeding on a website maintained by the Maryland Judiciary, completely removing all information concerning the proceeding from the public website, including the names of the parties, case numbers, and any reference to the proceeding or any reference to the removal of the proceeding from the public website.
(b)
(1)
This section applies only to a court record relating to an action for repossession of residential property for a failure to pay rent filed on or after March 5, 2020, but before January 1, 2022.
(2)
This section does not apply to any record relating to an action for repossession for failure to pay rent that resulted in a money judgment entered in favor of a landlord unless the petitioner provides evidence to the court that the judgment has been satisfied.
(c)
(1)
An individual may petition the court to shield court records relating to any action for repossession for failure to pay rent filed against the individual if the failure to pay rent was due to a loss of income arising out of the COVID–19 pandemic.
(2)
A petition may not be filed under this section until the appeal period for the action to which a record relates has lapsed.
(d)
The court shall grant a petition under this section for any record relating to an action for repossession in which there was not a judgment entered in favor of a landlord.
(e)
(1)
For any record relating to an action for repossession in which a judgment was entered in favor of a landlord, the petitioner shall serve a copy of the petition for shielding on the landlord.
(2)
A landlord may file an objection to a petition no later than 15 days after receipt of service.
(3)
If the landlord files a timely objection to the petition, the court shall hold a hearing.
(4)
If the petitioner demonstrates at the hearing that the petitioner’s failure to pay rent that led to the judgment in favor of the landlord was due to a loss of income arising out of the COVID–19 pandemic, the court may grant the shielding of records relating to that judgment.
(5)
If the landlord does not file a timely objection to the petition, the court:
(i)
May grant the petition; or
(ii)
If it denies the petition, shall provide the specific reasons for that denial in the order denying the petition.
Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 8-503 (2026)
Title 8. Landlord and Tenant
Subtitle 5. Tenant Remedies
§ 8–503LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)
“Court record” has the meaning stated in § 8–502(a) of this subtitle.
(3)
“Failure to pay rent proceeding” means an action initiated by a landlord under § 8–401 of this title.
(4)
“Shield” has the meaning stated in § 8–502(a) of this subtitle.
(b)
(1)
Within 60 days after the final resolution of a failure to pay rent proceeding, the District Court shall shield all court records relating to the proceeding if the proceeding did not result in a judgment of possession.
(2)
(i)
On motion by a tenant, the District Court may shield all court records relating to a failure to pay rent proceeding that results in a judgment of possession if:
(1)
The tenant demonstrates by a preponderance of the evidence that the tenant exercised the right of redemption under § 8–401(g) of this title and at least 12 months have passed since the final resolution of the proceeding that the tenant seeks to shield; or
(2)
The District Court determines that there is good cause to shield the court records.
(ii)
Subject to subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, the District Court shall seal the court records within 30 days after granting the tenant’s motion to shield.
(iii)
If a judgment for possession is entered in a proceeding in which the tenant asserted a rent escrow defense under § 8–211 of this title, the District Court may shield only the court records related to the judgment for possession.
(c)
Court records shielded under subsection (b) of this section may be opened only:
(1)
On written request by the tenant; or
(2)
On order of the District Court for good cause shown.
(d)
A tenant may obtain a copy of an order issued under this section at any time from a clerk of the District Court, on proper identification, without a showing of need.
(e)
An order to shield court records under this section may not affect any action in which an appeal is pending.