In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Abuse” has the meaning stated in § 4–501(b) of the Family Law Article. “Legal occupant” means an occupant who resides on the premises with the actual knowledge and permission of the landlord. “Offender” means a person who commits an act of abuse. “Peace order” means an enforceable final peace order. “Protective order” means an enforceable final protective order. “Qualified third party” means: A physician who is authorized to practice medicine under the Health Occupations Article; A psychologist who is authorized to practice psychology under the Health Occupations Article; A social worker or caseworker of any public or private health or social services agency or provider; or An advocate from a domestic violence or sexual assault prevention or assistance program. “Report by a qualified third party” means a report based on information received by a qualified third party while acting in a professional capacity that: Indicates that the tenant or a legal occupant is seeking assistance as a result of an act of abuse; Includes the following elements: The name of the tenant or legal occupant; A statement that the tenant or legal occupant is a victim of abuse; The date, time, location, and a brief description of the incident; The name and physical description of the alleged offender, if known; The name and address of the employer of the qualified third party; The licensing entity and license number of the qualified third party, if the qualified third party is required to be licensed; and The signature of the qualified third party, under seal of a notary public; and Is signed and acknowledged by the tenant or legal occupant under penalty of perjury.

Subject to the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of this section, a tenant may terminate the tenant’s future liability under a residential lease if the tenant or legal occupant is a victim of abuse. If a tenant or legal occupant is a victim of abuse, the tenant may provide to the landlord the written notice required under § 8–5A–03 of this subtitle and, if the written notice is provided, the tenant shall have 30 days to vacate the leased premises from the date of providing the written notice. A tenant who vacates leased premises under this section is responsible for rent only for the time following the tenant providing notice of an intent to vacate until the tenant vacates the leased premises, up to a maximum of 30 days. If a tenant vacates the leased premises earlier than 30 days after the date the tenant provides written notice of an intent to vacate, the tenant shall provide the landlord with written notice, signed by the tenant and notarized, by first–class mail or hand delivery stating that the tenant has vacated the leased premises. On receiving a notice identified in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, a landlord shall inspect the leased premises and, if the tenant has vacated the leased premises, provide the tenant with a written statement that: Confirms the tenant has vacated the leased premises; States the rent that the tenant is responsible for under this subsection; and States the amount of rent still owed by the tenant or the amount of any overpayment of rent to be refunded. For the purpose of calculating the rent that a tenant is responsible for under this subsection, the tenant shall be deemed to have vacated the leased premises: If notice is delivered by first–class mail, on the date the notice was postmarked; or If notice is hand delivered, on the date the notice was hand delivered to the landlord. A tenant who vacates the leased premises earlier than 30 days after the date the tenant provided written notice of an intent to vacate and who fails to provide the written notice required under this paragraph shall be responsible for the maximum rent required under paragraph (1) of this subsection. If a tenant does not vacate the leased premises within 30 days of providing to the landlord the written notice required under § 8–5A–03 of this subtitle, the landlord is, at the landlord’s option and with written notice to the tenant, entitled to: All legal remedies against a tenant holding over available under § 8–402 of this title; or Deem the tenant’s notice of an intent to vacate to have been rescinded and the terms of the original lease to be in full force and effect. The termination of a tenant’s future liability under a residential lease under this section does not terminate or in any other way impact the future liability of a tenant who is the respondent in the action that results in: A protective order issued for the benefit of the victim tenant or victim legal occupant under § 4–506 of the Family Law Article; or A peace order issued for the benefit of the victim tenant or victim legal occupant under § 3–1505 of the Courts Article for which the underlying act was an act of abuse.

If a tenant or legal occupant is a victim of abuse, the tenant may terminate the tenant’s future liability under a residential lease under § 8–5A–02 of this subtitle if the tenant provides the landlord with written notice by first–class mail or hand delivery of an intent to vacate the leased premises, including the tenant’s or legal occupant’s status as a victim of abuse. The notice provided under subsection (a) of this section shall include: A copy of a protective order issued for the benefit of the tenant or legal occupant under § 4–506 of the Family Law Article; A copy of a peace order issued for the benefit of the tenant or legal occupant under § 3–1505 of the Courts Article for which the underlying act was an act of abuse; or A copy of a report by a qualified third party, provided that: The name and physical description of the alleged perpetrator are redacted; and The report was signed by the qualified third party within the preceding 60 days.

This section applies to an action for possession of property under § 8–402.1 of this title against a tenant or legal occupant who is a victim of abuse. A tenant is deemed to have raised a rebuttable presumption that the alleged breach of the lease does not warrant an eviction if the tenant provides to the court: A copy of a protective order issued for the benefit of the tenant or legal occupant under § 4–506 of the Family Law Article; A copy of a peace order issued for the benefit of the tenant or legal occupant under § 3–1505 of the Courts Article for which the underlying act was an act of abuse; or A report by a qualified third party, provided that: The name and physical description of the alleged perpetrator are redacted; and The alleged breach of the lease occurred within 60 days of the date the report was signed by the qualified third party. If an act of abuse is raised as a defense in an action for possession of property under § 8–402.1 of this title, the court, in its discretion, may enter a judgment in favor of a tenant who does not provide the evidence described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

A person who is a victim of abuse and who is a tenant under a residential lease may provide to the landlord a written request to change the locks of the leased premises if the protective order or peace order issued for the benefit of the tenant or legal occupant requires the respondent to refrain from entering or to vacate the residence of the tenant or legal occupant. The written request provided under subsection (a) of this section shall include: A copy of a protective order issued for the benefit of the tenant or legal occupant under § 4–506 of the Family Law Article; or A copy of a peace order issued for the benefit of the tenant or legal occupant under § 3–1505 of the Courts Article for which the underlying act was an act of abuse. The landlord shall change the locks on the leased premises by the close of the next business day after receiving a written request under subsection (a) of this section. If the landlord fails to change the locks as required under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the tenant: May have the locks changed by a certified locksmith on the leased premises without permission from the landlord; and Shall give a duplicate key to the landlord or the landlord’s agent by the close of the next business day after the lock change. If a landlord changes the locks on a tenant’s leased premises under subsection (c) of this section, the landlord: Shall provide a copy of the new key to the tenant who made the request for the change of locks at a mutually agreed time not to exceed 48 hours following the lock change; and May charge a fee to the tenant not exceeding the reasonable cost of changing the locks. If a landlord charges a fee to the tenant for changing the locks on a tenant’s leased premises under subsection (d) of this section, the tenant shall pay the fee within 45 days of the date the locks are changed. If a tenant does not pay a fee as required under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the landlord may: Charge the fee as additional rent; or Withhold the amount of the fee from the tenant’s security deposit.

A landlord may not disclose any information provided by a tenant under this subtitle to a third party unless: The tenant consents in writing to the disclosure; or The disclosure is required by law or a court order.