Maryland Landlords Must Now Provide 60–90 Days’ Notification of Rent Increases
- September 25, 2025
- Landlord Law
Every Maryland landlord needs to be aware that, as of October 2023, there are new laws about the written notice required anytime a Maryland landlord wants to increase rent. Failing to give tenants adequate notice can lead to legal issues, so it’s good to be familiar with the terms of these recent changes.
Understanding your legal obligations as a Maryland landlord isn’t always easy. It’s even further complicated when state laws change or conflict with your local county or municipal laws. If you have questions about how to proceed with legally increasing rent in Maryland, a Maryland landlord lawyer can help.
Longer Notice Required for Maryland Rent Increases
Back in October 2023, House Bill 0151 was passed into law. The bill’s title is “Real Property – Residential Leases – Notification of Rent Increases.” It lays out new requirements for Maryland landlords, specifically regarding how much notice a landlord must give before enacting a rent increase.
New Maryland laws extend notification periods for rent increases. Landlords must now give 90 days’ notice for leases that are more than one month long and 60 days’ notice for tenancies longer than 1 week, but not longer than one month.
There are two specific changes that every Maryland landlord should know. The first is the extension to a minimum 90-day notice before putting a rent increase into effect. However, this 90-day period applies only when a renter lease is longer than one month.
The second important piece of information from the bill is the extension to a 60-day notice for tenants renting for longer than 1 week, but not longer than one month. Raising rent without giving sufficient notice puts you at risk of your tenants taking legal action against you. That means it’s essential for landlords to stay ahead of Maryland’s changing laws by consulting a Maryland landlord lawyer.
Exceptions to the New Notification Rules in Maryland
Know Your Local Laws — They Might Be More Strict
Not every Maryland landlord is expected to comply with the new 90- and 60-day notification periods, although most are. Year-long and month-to-month leasing are by far the most popular types of lease agreements, both in Maryland and across the country. However, if you’re in the minority of landlords who have a week-to-week lease agreement with a tenant, you’re free to increase rent with a much shorter notification window.
If you have a written week-to-week lease agreement, you only have to give your tenant seven days’ notice before increasing rent. If you have an oral week-to-week lease agreement, you’re required to provide notice at least 21 days before the increase goes into effect.
Often, state laws serve as a minimum. For example, in unincorporated Montgomery County, local laws specify that landlords must always give 90 days’ notice before increasing rent, regardless of the type of lease a tenant has. If your local county laws require longer notification periods before rolling out a rent increase, it’s important to comply with those local laws as well.
If you’re a Maryland landlord hoping to raise your rent prices, it’s best to consult a Maryland landlord attorney before you proceed. Call Lusk Law, LLC at (443) 535-9715 to speak with an experienced landlord lawyer in Maryland.
Complying With Maryland Rent Increase Notification Laws
Respecting the legal timelines for Maryland rent increases isn’t enough to ensure you’re complying with state laws. How you give notice is just as important as when. Simply letting your tenant know you are increasing rent isn’t considered an official notification.
Under Maryland state law, rent increase notification can be written or electronic, but it must be in some form of written communication. Telling your tenant in person or over the phone doesn’t count as a legal notice. When you send the notice also matters. The new law setting increased notification time is designed to protect tenant rights, not landlords. The new 60- and 90-day minimums refer to when your tenant receives the notice of rent increase. If you choose to mail a notice, you need to send it far enough in advance that your tenant has time to receive it before the 60- or 90-day window begins.
Maryland landlords must also be careful when it comes to what the notice must contain. You need to include the date you’re sending the notice and the date the rent increase will go into effect. You also need to make sure that the increase doesn’t violate any of the terms of the lease or any local laws. The state of Maryland doesn’t set limits on the amount or frequency of rent increases, but some counties have local rent control laws in place.
Get Help From a Maryland Landlord Attorney
Advocates for Life’s Obstacles and Opportunities
Complying with both state and local laws is essential for protecting your finances as a Maryland landlord. When you need to increase rent, it’s best to first consult a Maryland landlord attorney. A lawyer advises you on how to achieve the rent increase you need without ending up with legal issues.
Call Lusk Law, LLC today at (443) 535-9715. Our experienced Maryland landlord lawyers can help advise you on how to proceed with a rent increase.