Maryland Residential Lease Agreement Template

A fixed-term lease for a house, apartment or condo. It sets the rent, deposit, rules and responsibilities for both sides, with slots for the rules of the state where the home is located. This edition fills in the Maryland rules we could confirm and marks the rest as blanks to check.

Maryland rules for this form

Deposit limit. A security deposit may not exceed one month's rent per unit, with a limited exception up to two months' rent for tenants in a state utility assistance arrangement. (Md. Code, Real Property 8-203)

Deadline to return the deposit. Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit with interest, less any amounts properly withheld. (Md. Code, Real Property 8-203)

Late fees. A lease may not set a late fee above 5 percent of the rent due for that period; weekly leases have smaller dollar limits. (Md. Code, Real Property 8-208)

Required disclosures. Homes built before 1978 need the federal lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet. (Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (42 U.S.C. 4852d))

Required disclosures. Older rental homes covered by Maryland's lead law must be registered with the Department of the Environment and pass lead inspections at turnover. (Md. Code, Environment Article, Title 6, Subtitle 8 (Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing))

Required disclosures. Residential leases generally must include the Maryland Tenants' Bill of Rights published by the state housing department. (Renters' Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024)

Month-to-month notice. A landlord must give at least 60 days of written notice to end a month to month tenancy, while a tenant generally gives 30 days. (Md. Code, Real Property 8-402)

Cities and counties in Maryland can add their own rules on top of these. Check local ordinances before you sign.

What is in the template

1. Parties
2. Property
3. Term
4. Rent
5. Late charges
6. Security deposit
7. Other charges and fees
8. Utilities and services
9. Occupants and guests
10. Use of the property
11. Pets
12. Smoking
13. Maintenance and repairs
14. Alterations
15. Landlord entry
16. Subletting and assignment
17. Insurance
18. Default
19. Moving out
20. Notices
21. Disclosures
22. General terms
23. Signatures

Before you use it

• A residential lease is the main contract between a landlord and a tenant for a fixed term, usually 6 or 12 months.
• State law sets the limits on deposits, late fees, entry notice and eviction notices, and it overrides any lease clause that conflicts with it.
• A clause that waives a tenant's legal rights is usually unenforceable and can weaken the rest of the lease.
• Have an attorney in your state review your final version, and attach every disclosure your state and city require.

For the full explanation of this form, read our guide to the residential lease agreement.