Eviction Awareness

Mid-Shore Pro Bono (MSPB) is taking action to help tenants who are being evicted even after Governor Hogan’s executive order was issued to halt certain evictions during the COVID pandemic. And while Maryland courts have also issued their own halt for failure to pay rent cases through the end of the year – people in our own community are still being evicted from their homes.

What people need to know!
While currently there are limited protections available for tenants, these protections do not automatically prevent eviction. These protections may delay an eventual eviction, but they do not mean that tenants do not have to pay their rent. Rent will eventually have to be paid. Tenants will still need to take the following actions to safeguard themselves and their families:
  • Signing a statement about the impact COVID-19 has had on their ability to pay rent
  • Providing proof that their income was impacted by the pandemic which may include loss of job, loss of wages, closure of the place of work, or the need to miss work to take care of school age children.
  • If a tenant receives an eviction notice or is served a summons to appear in court for a landlord tenant issue, they must appear in court to protect their rights.

 

Tenants
MSPB is advising tenants to apply for local emergency assistance and keep records of the programs they apply for and if funding was provided. They need to know that their landlord can still evict them if their lease is ending and the landlord does not agree to renew the lease.
Tenants may have defenses to a failure to pay rent case under the Center for Disease Control Declaration and the Maryland Governor’s Executive Order
Evictions are still taking place and landlords are obtaining judgements which gives them the ability to collect the rent later.

 

Landlords
In general, when a tenant fails to pay rent, the landlord can file a complaint with the court to either recover the rent money or repossess (i.e. evict) the tenant. There are usually two steps in the process. The first is a failure to pay rent hearing. If the tenant is unable to come up with the rent money, then the landlord can file for a warrant of restitution, which if successful will result in the tenant being evicted.
Maryland’s courts have gone back to Phase II**, which means that until January 15, 2021, the courts are limiting the types of matters they are hearing, limiting in-person appearances in court, and encouraging use of remote technology. During this time, landlords may be able to file a complaint in District Court. Failure to pay rent hearings scheduled between November 15, 2020 and January 15,2021 have been postponed and will be re-scheduled by the court. If you have questions about when your hearing is scheduled, you should call the court.

Resources

If tenants are behind on rent, there are resources available to help:

People with lack of access to technology for videoconferencing can get help by working with a local civil legal service provider, such as Mid-Shore Pro Bono, Legal Aid, or the Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence.

Legal Assistance: