Ch. 12

Question 1

Automatic Renewals

Answer 1

MD leases are prohibited from having a clause that extends the lease for more than one month without the signing or initialing by the tenant to the renewable clause.

Question 2

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Answer 2

Effective April 1, 2018, rental dwelling units must have carbon monoxide alarms on each level and outside of the sleeping areas. The landlord is allowed to provide a combination smoke and carbon detector.

Question 3

Confess Judgment Clause

Answer 3

A lease provision where the tenant pleads guilty on a claim arising from the lease, especially failure to pay rental. This is prohibited in MD residential leases.

Question 4

Distraint

Answer 4

A right given by the court to a landlord to both seize and sell a tenant’s personal property.

Question 5

Exculpatory Clause

Answer 5

Language in the lease intended to hold the landlord harmless from liability for any injury or damage arising from the landlord’s negligence, or other misconduct on the leased premises.

Question 6

Holding Over

Answer 6

Retaining possession of the property after the end of the lease term.

Question 7

Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE)

Answer 7

Landlords must register their rental properties built before 1978 with MDE. MDE also posts a list of approved lead-certified contractors and inspectors. The MDE Pamphlet NOTICE OF TENANTS’ RIGHTS should be given to tenants of pre-1978 residential rentals.

Question 8

Security Deposits

Answer 8

A payment by a tenant, held by the landlord during the lease term, and kept until time of vacancy. Landlords can retain some or all of a deposit if damage was done to the propertyfor for unpaid rent and collection losses. M landlords cannot request an amount that exceeds two months’ rent.