Pass Good Cause Without Undermining Rent Stabilization

The Maryland General Assembly is closer than ever to finally passing local enabling legislation for Good Cause Eviction (HB709/SB651), but key legislators need to hear from you to ensure they pass the bill without harmful amendments that would undermine other renter protections.

More than 5,000 Maryland families face evictions for no stated reason. Landlords often refuse to renew leases when renters organize for their rights, demand that repairs be made, or complain about violations of the law. When corporate landlords engage in no-cause evictions, families cannot stay rooted in their schools, jobs, and support networks; and, renters do not report hazardous conditions out of fear of eviction. “Good Cause” laws require transparency and accountability from corporate landlords for why they are choosing to evict a tenant and promote housing stability for tenants, neighborhoods and communities.

Unfortunately, the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee is considering amendments that would weaken the bill, including expanding the list of “good causes.” Another amendment would force counties to choose between strong rent stabilization laws or good cause eviction. This carve-out creates an impossible choice for local governments. Rent stabilization with vacancy control means that when a renter moves out or is evicted (the home becomes vacant), the landlord may not raise the rent more than permitted by the rent stabilization law. Removing vacancy control means that the landlord can increase the rent without any limit whenever the home becomes vacant. This amendment would strip counties like Montgomery and Prince Georges that have already passed rent stabilization with vacancy control of the ability to fully protect renters, undermining the progress they’ve made.

Corporate lobbyists were consulted about these amendments, but Renters United Maryland was not. We are adamantly opposed to these amendments.

Please use this form to contact members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, Chair Smith, Senate President Ferguson, and bill sponsor, Senator Muse to tell them to pass Good Cause Eviction legislation without harming other renters' rights. You'll be prompted on separate pages to send slightly different emails to each of the key targets. Once you’ve taken action, share this link with your networks – we need legislators to hear from as many Marylanders as possible!