Renting Apartment Maryland: Tenant Rights, Rules, and What You Need to Know

When you're renting an apartment in Maryland, a legal arrangement where a tenant pays a landlord for the right to live in a property under a lease agreement. Also known as leasing a rental unit, it's governed by state laws that protect both sides—but tenants often don't know their rights until something goes wrong. Unlike some states, Maryland has clear rules about how landlords can enter your home, how much they can raise rent, and when they can show the apartment to new potential tenants.

Maryland landlord entry, the legal right of a landlord to access a rental unit for repairs, inspections, or showings. Also known as landlord access, it’s not a free pass. Landlords must give at least 24 hours’ notice unless it’s an emergency like a burst pipe or gas leak. You can’t be forced to let someone in on short notice just because they want to show the place to someone else. This is a common point of confusion—many tenants think their landlord can walk in anytime, but that’s not true under Maryland law. And when it comes to rental property showing rules, the legal guidelines around when and how often a landlord can show a rented apartment to prospective tenants. Also known as showing a rental unit, these rules are designed to balance the landlord’s need to rent out the property with your right to privacy. In Maryland, showings must happen during reasonable hours (usually 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.), and you can’t be bombarded with daily visits. If your landlord is showing the apartment every other day without a valid reason, you’re within your rights to push back. Then there’s the Maryland lease notice, the formal written communication required by law to end a tenancy, raise rent, or make changes to the lease. Also known as lease termination notice, it’s not just a friendly heads-up—it’s a legal document with strict timing rules. For month-to-month rentals, you need 30 days’ notice. For rent increases, it’s 60 days if you’ve lived there over a year. These aren’t just technicalities—they’re your protection.

What you’ll find below are real, practical guides written by people who’ve dealt with these exact issues. From how to handle a landlord who shows up unannounced, to what to do if your rent jumps without notice, to how to document everything so you’re covered if things go sideways. No fluff. No legal jargon. Just what you need to know before you sign a lease—or after you’ve already moved in.