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If you’re thinking about renting a home in Maryland, you’re not alone. The state’s good job market and high-quality standard of living attract renters from around the world. But if you’re new to the state, you may ask,
- How much can a landlord raise rent in Maryland?
- Is Maryland expensive to rent?
- And most importantly, is there rent control?
Continue reading as we answer all your questions, along with a county-wise breakdown of rent control regulations in Maryland. So, let’s get started.
How Much Can a Landlord Raise Rent in Maryland?
In Maryland, landlords can raise rent by any amount unless restricted by local laws. Montgomery County caps it at 5.7%, and Prince George’s at 6% or CPI-U + 3%. Other areas, like Baltimore and Anne Arundel, have no limits. Proper written notice is always required before increasing rent.
A landlord can raise rent by any amount in Maryland. This is because the state has no rent control policy to regulate it; however, landlords must provide adequate written notice, based on the lease type, before raising the rent. Increasing rent in retaliation is illegal.
So, the next time you wonder, “Why is rent in Maryland so high?”, the lack of statewide rent control in MD is the reason for it.
Some Maryland counties, like Montgomery, Prince George’s, and Takoma Park, have their own rent control rules to protect tenants, as covered below.
How Much Can a Landlord Raise Rent in Baltimore City?
A landlord can raise rent freely in Baltimore County, MD. There are no specific Baltimore County rent increase laws that prohibit property owners from increasing rent.
If we talk about the Baltimore City rent increase notice, landlords must give enough notice to tenants to adjust their budgets or find alternative housing, if necessary. For leases longer than one month, a 90-day notice is needed. If the lease is between a week and a month, a 60-day notice is typically required. You can find other Baltimore City rental and housing laws here.
How Much Can a Landlord Raise Rent in Anne Arundel County Maryland?
Again, a landlord can raise rent by any amount in Anne Arundel County. Is there a limit on rent increase in Anne Arundel County? No, there’s no limit on rent increase in Anne Arundel County.
What Is the Maximum Rent Increase in Montgomery County Maryland?
The maximum rent increase allowed in Montgomery County, Maryland, is 5.7% for a period from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. This is 0.3% lower than 2024’s allowance of 6%, according to Montgomery County’s Rent Stabilization Law, which ties the rent increase allowance to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria Area (CPI-U) plus 3% or 6%, whichever is lower.
What Is the Maximum Rent Increase in Prince George’s County Maryland?
Is There Rent Control in Prince George’s County, MD? Yes, Prince George’s County has rent control. It passed the Permanent Rent Stabilization and Protection Act of 2024 to protect tenants from excessive rent hikes. So, how much can a landlord raise rent in PG County Maryland? The typical rent increases for regulated housing units are limited to 6% annually or CPI-U + 3%, whichever is lower. On the other hand, it’s capped to the lesser of 4.5% or CPI-U for age-restricted senior housing facilities.
What Is the Maximum Rent Increase in Howard County?
There’s no maximum rent increase in Howard County, Maryland. While Dr. Calvin Ball, Howard County’s Executive, announced that a rent control legislation will be introduced to cap rent increases at 5%, plus CPI, with a maximum cap of 10%, the bill failed to pass in January 2024’s legislative session. So, currently, Howard County rent increase laws don’t exist.
How Much Can a Landlord Raise Rent in Frederick, MD?
A landlord can raise rent at discretion in Frederick, MD. The county has no rent stabilization law to impose limitations on how much a landlord can raise rent in Frederick.
Is There a Limit on Rent Increase in Maryland?
No, there’s no limit on rent increase in Maryland. This means a landlord can raise rent as much as they want, based on factors like Consumer Price Index (CPI), rising interest rates, property size, rental housing demand (which is currently high) and supply, and broader economic trends.
How Often Can a Landlord Raise Rent in Maryland?
A landlord can raise in Maryland as frequently as they wish by following the appropriate guidelines. For a fixed-term lease, however, rent can only be hiked after the lease ends.
Rent Increase Notice in Maryland by Government
How much notice is required for a rent increase in Maryland? The notice period a landlord must give before raising rent in Maryland depends on the lease duration, i.e., less than one week, more than one month, or more than one week but less than 1 month. Oral and written leases also have different notice requirements for rent increases.
| Lease Duration + Type of Lease Agreement | Maryland Rent Increase Notice Period | Rent Increase Notice Delivery |
| More Than 1 Month | At least 90 days | Rent increase notice shall be delivered to the tenant by: 1. A first-class mail with a certificate of mailing2. An e-mail message3. A text message4. An electronic tenant portal |
| More Than 1 Week & Less Than 1 Month | At least 60 days | |
| Less Than 1 Week (Oral Lease) | At least 21 days | |
| Less Than 1 Week (Written Lease) | At least 7 days |
If you need more details about the Maryland rent increase notice, you may read the Maryland Real Property §8-209 code.
Can a Landlord Raise Rent More Than 10% in Maryland?
Yes, a landlord can raise rent by more than 10% in Maryland, but only if they don’t live in a county with local rent control ordinances. In addition, tenants must be notified in advance about any increase in rent through a proper notice, which must contain information about the new rent amount and the date from which it’ll come into effect.
What Are the New Rental Laws in Maryland 2025?
Maryland’s rental laws are regularly revised to protect tenants and guide landlords, covering things like application fees, security deposits, and fair treatment, among others. They help make sure the rental process is clear, fair, and balanced for everyone involved.
Application Fee Law
Maryland Real Property §8-213 states that a landlord cannot ask for an application fee in excess of $25. If a landlord charges over $25 in fees (excluding the security deposit), they must refund the excess amount to the tenant within 15 days of move-in or notice that no lease will happen. Only actual costs, like credit checks, can be kept. If not refunded, the landlord may owe double the fee amount as damages.
Security Deposit Law
In Maryland, a landlord cannot ask for a security deposit that’s more than 1 month’s rent for leases signed on or after October 1, 2024, according to Maryland Real Property §8-203 (b)(1). A security deposit in an amount equal to up to 2 months’ rent is only allowed if:
- Tenant is eligible and has qualified for utility assistance through the Department of Human Services
- Lease agreement requires that the tenant make payments for utility services directly to the landlord
- Both parties agree in writing to the amount of the security deposit
The security deposits must be kept in a federally insured financial institution doing business in Maryland, and returned to the tenant within 45 days after the end of the rental period, minus any deductions for unpaid rent or utility bills, damages beyond normal wear and tear, and fees from an eviction case judgement.
Right of First Refusal Law
According to Maryland Real Property §8-119, a tenant who has lived in a rental property with 1, 2, or 3 units for at least six months is eligible to buy the property if it’s up for sale, or if the landlord receives an offer to buy it from a third party.
Anti-Discrimination Law
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination against tenants by landlords and real estate companies because of:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- Sex
- National origin
- Income source
- Immigration status
- Familial status
- Disability
- Disability Group Homes
How to Manage Your Rental Property and Rent Collection?
Managing a rental property can feel like a full-time job even if it’s not. Between tracking rent, handling maintenance, and keeping tenant records, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. That’s where property management software comes in.
Below are the key benefits of property management software for landlords and property managers alike:
- Rental business scalability without any fuss
- Easy accounting
- Automatic rent collection
- Improved communication
- Tenant screening
- Rental property listing and online marketing
- Insights about business’s health
- Work order management and tracking
How RentPost Helps Manage Your Rental Property and Rent Collection?
RentPost is a cloud-based property management software (PMS) that brings together applicants, tenants, vendors, property managers, and owners in a seamless, all-in-one solution. Its suite of features comprises everything required to manage a rental property and streamline rent collection, irrespective of the number of units.
Here’s an overview of what RentPost can do:
- Real-Time Payment Tracking: With RentPost, easily track rent payments and outstanding balances in real-time with the status of each payment just a click away.
- Tenant Screening: Rent out your property to only trustworthy tenants after end-to-end screening that includes thorough background checks, credit checks, eviction history, identity verification, and more.
- Scalability: Add new units and tenants as your rental portfolio grows, and scale your business with minimal effort.
- Automated Payment Reminders: Automated payment reminders mean no more late rent payments. The PMS automatically calculates and applies late fees based on the schedules you define, so you never have to chase payments again.
- Work Order Management: Save time and money by streamlining work orders with RentPost. Accept maintenance requests from tenants, assign them to the respective maintenance personnel or managers, and the tool will take care of the rest.
- Financial Report Generation: Get valuable insights into your apartment’s finances through income and expense reports. Identify the right time to adjust rent prices based on your property’s performance.
Explore rent laws in other regions of the US:
- How much can you raise rent in California?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in New Jersey?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent In Florida?
- How much can you raise rent in NYC?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Oregon?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Los Angeles?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in San Diego?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Pennsylvania?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Massachusetts?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Chicago?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Illinois?
Raise Rent in Maryland: FAQs
Q: Is There a Limit to How Much Rent Can be Increased in Maryland?
A: Maryland doesn’t have a statewide rent cap, but some counties, such as Montgomery or Prince George’s have local limits instead. In areas without caps, landlords can raise rent without restrictions, as long as they give proper notice and follow lease terms.
Q: Can a Landlord Raise the Rent Without Giving Notice in Maryland?
A: No, landlords must give notice before raising rent. In most areas of Maryland, they need to provide at least 60 days’ written notice before the increase takes effect. This gives tenants time to plan or decide if they want to renew. If they are on a month-to-month lease, the same notice rule usually applies. Without proper notice, the increase is invalid under the law.
Q: Do Rent Increase Laws Apply to All Types of Properties in Maryland?
A: Not always. Rent increase rules in Maryland can depend on the type of property and location. For example, some rent control laws apply only to older buildings or larger complexes in certain counties. Newer buildings or single-family homes may be exempt. Tenants should check the lease and local housing laws to know what rules apply to their rental.
Q: Are There Exceptions to the Rent Cap in Maryland?
A: Yes, there are exceptions. In counties with rent caps, some properties may be excluded, like new constructions or certain small units. Also, if a landlord makes major repairs or upgrades, they might be allowed to raise rent beyond the usual limit.
Q: Can Rent be Increased During a Fixed-Term Lease in Maryland?
A: No, during a fixed-term lease (like a 1-year lease), the landlord cannot raise the rent unless the lease says so. Rent stays the same until the lease ends. Once it’s time to renew, the landlord can increase the rent, but they still need to give written notice.
Q: What Are Tenants’ Rights if They Can’t Afford a Rent Increase in Maryland?
A: If tenants can’t afford the rent hike, they have a few options. First, try talking to the landlord. Explain your situation and ask if the increase can be lowered or delayed. If that doesn’t work, tenants can look for help from local housing programs. They can also choose to move without penalty after the lease ends.
Q: What Happens if a Landlord Increases Rent Without Following the Law in Maryland?
A: If a landlord raises rent without proper notice or breaks local rent rules, tenants can report them. They can file a complaint with the local housing authority. In some cases, the increase can be reversed, or the landlord may face penalties. Tenants can also speak with legal aid to protect their rights if the landlord doesn’t follow the law.
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