Baltimore City (and Maryland) Rental Property Owners: URGENT ACTION NEEDED!
- Target:
- Baltimore City Council
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- www.landlord411.org
On Monday, August 14th, the city council introduced a bill that will be devastating to Baltimore City Landlords. And, as with most legislation if passed, it can be a catalyst for adoption into surrounding counties, and potentially the state. Your voice needs to be added to the conversation! This petition will be delivered at the hearing once it's scheduled and is done in collaboration with Maryland Multi-Housing Association. We need your help - spread the word - FORWARD THIS TO OTHERS.
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT THIS PROPOSED PIECE OF LEGISLATION?
It’s simple. It will require landlords/owners to include a provision in their leases offering residential tenants mediation before eviction proceedings can commence. It severely limits a landlord’s ability to recover rent through the Failure-to-Pay-Rent process. While rental owners still have to cover operating expenses (i.e. mortgage, water). The proposed bill creates more opportunity for unwarranted delays within the court before rent is paid to the owner.
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?
Please sign and share this petition to show your opposition and join our effort to defeat a legislative over-reach.
OUR VIEW IS:
1. This is potentially unconstitutional. 2. There are sufficient tenant remedies and defenses to prevent evictions as written in the current statute. 3. Even though this bill is targeting landlords that own five or more rental properties, it affects all landlords because the bill can be amended prior to vote.
TAKE ACTION:
Please sign and share this petition to show your opposition in advance of the yet to be scheduled hearing date.
CONTACT ME:
If you have any questions about this bill, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at brian@diyrealty.co.
JOIN LANDLORD 411:
You can also stay on top of this and other issues affecting you by joining Landlord 411. We are advocates for small business and independent landlords.
Thank you in advance for your support,
Brian Wojcik, Organizer, Landlord 411
We, the undersigned, call on Baltimore City Council members to oppose
BILL 17-0113, which seeks to:
- obligate property owners to include a provision in their leases offering residential tenants mediation before eviction proceedings can commence.; and
- Explicitly requires that mediation be at the owners expense.; and
- Adds an additional 10 day extension for the tenant to accept or reject mediation, in addition to already existing statutory requirements.; and
- Adds additional unknown time delays until after the mediation proceeding, if mediation is accepted, and prevents eviction action.
This Proposed Legislation has Unintended Consequences
- 78% of housing in Baltimore is 1-4 unit properties; Most rental housing is owned by small business and independent landlords. These working-class people need rent payments without delays to pay operating expenses, such as the mortgage on the rental properties.
- It exacerbates an unfriendly business climate. There will be an incentive for Baltimore City Rental owners to divest their assets, and re-invest outside of the city.
- Consequently, there will be an increased shortage of affordable housing options for those in need, and less tax revenue generated by the city.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Baltimore City (and Maryland) Rental Property Owners: URGENT ACTION NEEDED! petition to Baltimore City Council was written by Landlord 411 and is in the category Politics at GoPetition.