Key Takeaways

New compliance requirements are coming/starting in 2025. Maryland landlords must prepare now for updated lease and disclosure rules that apply statewide, including Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, and Charles County.
The Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights becomes mandatory on July 1, 2025. Every new lease and lease renewal must include the official state-issued document, without modification.
Fee transparency is no longer optional. Starting October 1, 2025, landlords may only charge fees that are clearly disclosed upfront in writing. Undisclosed fees can lead to tenant claims beginning February 1, 2026.
Outdated lease templates create legal risk. Rental owners using old forms or informal fee practices are more vulnerable to disputes, enforcement actions, and weakened court positions.
These changes affect all residential rentals. Whether you self-manage or own a single property, the law applies equally across Maryland.
Professional property management reduces exposure. Working with a firm like Stripe Management helps ensure leases, disclosures, and compliance systems are updated automatically as laws change.

Maryland continues to roll out major updates to its landlord-tenant laws, and 2025 brings changes that directly affect how rental properties are leased, managed, and kept compliant. These updates are significant for rental owners in Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, and Charles County, where enforcement activity and tenant awareness continue to increase.

If you own rental property in Maryland, understanding these changes now can help you avoid disputes, fines, and unnecessary legal exposure later. Stripe Management put together this article to help landlords in Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, and Charles County understand compliance and legal enforcement in their leases.

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New Maryland Rental Law Changes You Should Know

Knowing how to present your rental property in the best light and get it in front of the right people is key to reducing vacancy time and avoiding long-term losses. The following steps are practical, proven, and easy to apply.

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Beginning July 1, 2025, all residential leases and lease renewals in Maryland must include the official Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights as an attachment. This document outlines tenant protections under state and federal law and must be provided exactly as issued by the state. It cannot be edited, summarized, or rewritten.

This requirement applies to:

Single-family rentals
Multifamily properties
Self-managed rentals
Professionally managed rentals

Failure to include the required document can place landlords out of compliance, even if the rest of the lease is properly written.

Starting October 1, 2025, Maryland landlords must clearly disclose all potential fees and charges upfront, before a tenant signs a lease. Only fees that are properly disclosed may be charged during the tenancy.

These disclosures include, but are not limited to:

Administrative or processing fees
Late fees
Pet fees and pet rent
Utility billing arrangements
Any recurring or one-time charges outside of base rent

Tenants gain the right to enforce these disclosure requirements beginning February 1, 2026, and claims may be brought even after a tenancy ends.

For rental owners, this means outdated leases, informal fee practices, or inconsistent disclosures can create serious financial and legal risk.

Who Is Impacted by These Changes

These law updates affect all Maryland residential rental owners, but they are especially relevant in:

Prince George’s County
Montgomery County
Charles County

Local courts, housing departments, and tenant advocacy groups in these counties are progressively concentrating on lease compliance, disclosures, and the accuracy of documentation. Rental owners operating without professional systems are far more likely to encounter issues.

Who Benefits from the New Rules

Tenants benefit from clearer expectations, standardized rights disclosures, and greater transparency around fees.

Landlords benefit when leases are properly structured, compliant, and defensible. Clear documentation reduces disputes, shortens court timelines when issues arise, and protects rental income.

The key difference is execution. Owners who rely on outdated templates or informal practices face higher risk, while owners with professional management stay protected.

Why This Matters for Maryland Rental Owners

Maryland’s regulatory trend is clear: increased transparency, standardized tenant protections, and stronger enforcement. These changes are not optional, and penalties for non-compliance can be costly.

Rental owners who prepare now will:

Avoid future disputes and claims
Reduce legal exposure
Maintain stronger tenant relationships
Protect long-term property value

Why Work With Stripe Management

At Stripe Management, compliance is built into our systems—not handled reactively.

We proactively:

Update lease templates to reflect new Maryland laws
Include all required state disclosures automatically
Ensure fee structures are fully compliant and documented
Monitor regulatory changes affecting Prince George’s, Montgomery, and Charles County rentals

Our clients don’t have to track legal updates or worry about missing requirements. We handle the details so rental owners can focus on returns, not regulations.

If you own rental property in Maryland and want professional management that stays ahead of legal changes, Stripe Management is here to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all Maryland landlords have to include the Tenants’ Bill of Rights in their leases?

Yes. Beginning July 1, 2025, all Maryland residential landlords must include the official Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights with every new lease and lease renewal. This requirement applies statewide, including Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, and Charles County, and covers both self-managed and professionally managed rental properties. The document must be attached as issued by the state and cannot be altered.

What happens if a landlord does not comply with the new lease or fee disclosure requirements?

Failure to comply can expose landlords to disputes, enforcement actions, and potential financial liability. Starting February 1, 2026, tenants may file claims related to undisclosed or improperly charged fees. Non-compliant leases can also weaken a landlord’s position in court if disputes arise. Updating lease documents and disclosure practices before the effective dates is strongly recommended.

Does this law apply to existing tenants or only to new leases?

The Tenants’ Bill of Rights requirement applies to all new leases and lease renewals executed on or after July 1, 2025. Existing leases do not need to be retroactively modified unless they are renewed or replaced. However, rental owners should update their lease templates now to ensure full compliance moving forward.

How can a property management company help landlords stay compliant with Maryland rental laws?

A professional property management company monitors regulatory changes, updates lease templates, ensures proper disclosures are included, and maintains documentation that meets state and local requirements. This reduces legal risk, prevents costly mistakes, and ensures rental properties remain compliant across Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, and Charles County without owners having to track legal changes themselves.