How can a tenant dispute a rent increase?

A tenant in Maryland can dispute a rent increase if the landlord has not provided the tenant with proper notice of the increase. Maryland law requires landlords to provide tenants with at least 60 days’ written notice of the rent increase before it can take effect. The notice must also specify the new amount of rent that the tenant will be expected to pay. The tenant must also be given a reasonable amount of time for them to dispute the rent increase. In order to dispute a rent increase, a tenant must first talk to the landlord and attempt to negotiate a mutually agreeable solution. If that fails, the tenant can file a complaint with the local court in their county. The complaint should include the exact details of the rent increase and the tenant’s legal argument for why the increase is not allowable. The tenant should also provide any proof they have to support their case. The court will then hold a hearing where both the tenant and landlord can present their arguments to a judge. The judge will decide whether or not the rent increase is allowed to stand. If the judge finds in favor of the tenant, any excess rent that was paid due to the increase will be refunded to the tenant.

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How can a tenant dispute a rent increase?

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