About
The Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) assists tenants and landlords in Howard County by:
- Administering County laws governing lease provisions, security deposits, and evictions;
- Resolving disputes between tenants and landlords through a discussion of rights, mediation and, if necessary, enforcement;
- Assisting landlords and prospective landlords to comply with landlord-tenant laws and be successful in their rental businesses.
- OCP does not handle habitability issues such as pests, mold, non-functioning appliances, or living condition.
Howard County Landlord-Tenant Law
In 2018, the Howard County Council enacted legislation governing certain landlord and tenant relations. The Landlord-Tenant Relations Act is codified in Title 17, Subtitle 10 of the Howard County Code. The purpose of the act is to:
- Supplement the rights of landlords and tenants under State law (codified in Title 8 of the Maryland Real Property Article);
- Encourage landlords and tenants to maintain and improve the quality of housing in the County;
- Assure fair and equitable relations between landlords and tenants; and
- Revise and modernize landlord-tenant law to more realistically serve the needs of County residents.
Landlord-Tenant Guide
The Office's Landlord Tenant Assistance publication, written in English and at least 10 other languages, must be offered to a prospective tenant.
Webinars
Recorded webinars on landlord-tenant law, rights and responsibilities.
