County Executive Marc Elrich today signed Bill 6-25 into law, enhancing the County’s ability to enforce housing code violations. Bill 6-25, Consumer Protection for Renters, removes an exemption for landlord/tenant issues under Consumer Protection law, making new tools available to force compliance when landlords repeatedly fail to correct code violations. The bill was sponsored by County Councilmember Kristin Mink and cosponsored by Council Vice President Will Jawando and Dawn Luedtke and adopted on April 1. The law will go into effect on July 14, 2025.
“This bill will help protect renters from bad landlords who delay fixing housing code violations,” said County Executive Elrich, “and it will enable us to sue landlords who demonstrate a pattern of deceptive practices in Circuit Court. This will not affect most landlords but will send a message to the ‘bad actors’ that we mean business. Everyone deserves a safe and livable place to call home. I want to thank Councilmember Mink and the Council for their work on this important issue.”
The legislation was supported by a wide coalition of community and nonprofit organizations, including Action in Montgomery, Service Workers International Union Local 500, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1994, the Enclave Tenants Association, CASA, the Muslim Community Center of Silver Spring and Jews United for Justice.
“I’m grateful to County Executive Elrich and my colleagues for their support of this bill, and to community members for their partnership and advocacy. It’s outrageous that for years on end, tenants have had no meaningful recourse if they find themselves locked into a lease with a landlord who chronically fails to meet basic housing code requirements. With this bill’s enactment, that changes. Rent – the largest expense of about 40% of our residents – will finally be protected under our Consumer Protection law, allowing the County to take substantial action against bad actor landlords who habitually subject tenants to terrible conditions. It’s a new day for tenants in Montgomery County,” said County Councilmember Mink. “Previously, under the County’s consumer protection laws, 'defective tenancies' were excluded under the scope of consumer protection, and tenants were required to file formal complaints with the Department of Housing and Community Affairs regarding housing code violations. The new law expands the Office of Consumer Protection’s authority to “investigate and enforce consumer protection laws in landlord-tenant matters that may include unfair or deceptive trade practices.”
Video from the event is on the County’s YouTube page. Photos are available on Flickr.
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Media Contact: Mary Anderson, mary.anderson@montgomerycountymd.gov or 301-529-7669