Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

Maryland Code, Real Property § 8-5A-05

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) A person who is a victim of abuse and who is a tenant under a residential lease may provide to the landlord a written request to change the locks of the leased premises if the protective order or peace order issued for the benefit of the tenant or legal occupant requires the respondent to refrain from entering or to vacate the residence of the tenant or legal occupant.

(b) The written request provided under subsection (a) of this section shall include:

(1) A copy of a protective order issued for the benefit of the tenant or legal occupant under § 4-506 of the Family Law Article; or

(2) A copy of a peace order issued for the benefit of the tenant or legal occupant under § 3-1505 of the Courts Article for which the underlying act was an act of abuse.

(c)(1) The landlord shall change the locks on the leased premises by the close of the next business day after receiving a written request under subsection (a) of this section.

(2) If the landlord fails to change the locks as required under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the tenant:

(i) May have the locks changed by a certified locksmith on the leased premises without permission from the landlord; and

(ii) Shall give a duplicate key to the landlord or the landlord's agent by the close of the next business day after the lock change.

(d) If a landlord changes the locks on a tenant's leased premises under subsection (c) of this section, the landlord:

(1) Shall provide a copy of the new key to the tenant who made the request for the change of locks at a mutually agreed time not to exceed 48 hours following the lock change; and

(2) May charge a fee to the tenant not exceeding the reasonable cost of changing the locks.

(e)(1) If a landlord charges a fee to the tenant for changing the locks on a tenant's leased premises under subsection (d) of this section, the tenant shall pay the fee within 45 days of the date the locks are changed.

(2) If a tenant does not pay a fee as required under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the landlord may:

(i) Charge the fee as additional rent; or

(ii) Withhold the amount of the fee from the tenant's security deposit.

Previous Part of Code Next Part of Code
Back to Chapter List

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Maryland Code, Real Property § 8-5A-05 - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/md/real-property/md-code-real-prop-sect-8-5a-05/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About The Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to Find an Attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard