For Immediate Release: Tuesday, November 2, 2021
Rockville, Md., Nov. 2, 2021—Today the Council unanimously voted to enact Bill 30-21, Landlord-Tenant Relations – Restrictions During Emergencies – Extended Limitations Against Rent Increases and Late Fees sponsored by Councilmember Will Jawando.
“The Racial Equity and Social Justice statement for Expedited Bill 30-21 states that the bill will disproportionately benefit Black and Latino residents because they experience the highest rates of housing insecurity in the County,” said Councilmember Jawando. “By stabilizing rents until May 2022 and preventing the collection of late fees, we will help the many low-income families, senior citizens living on a fixed income and people with disabilities who have been deeply impacted by the pandemic and continue to need rental support. All our Montgomery County residents deserve safe and stable housing.”
Bill 30-21 builds upon expedited legislation passed by the Council last April 2020 in response to the COVID-19 rental crisis. The 2020 legislation, the COVID-19 Renter Relief Act, limited the increase of residential rents during the catastrophic health emergency declared by Governor Hogan on March 5, 2020.
Under this Act, the limitation on rent increases lasted for 90 days after the public health emergency declared by Governor Hogan expires, which was on Aug. 15, 2021. Due to the expiration of the state-wide public health emergency, the rent stabilization under the COVID-19 Renter Relief Act was scheduled to expire on Nov. 15, 2021.
Through the adoption of Bill 30-21, the rent stabilization, or temporary prohibition against raising rents above the voluntary rent guidelines, which stands at 1.4% for 2021, as well as the late fee relief for tenants, will be extended until May 15, 2022, which would provide six months of extension. Tenants would not be required to attest to any specific economic conditions to landlords in order to qualify for the rent limitation.
The Council staff report for Bill 30-21 can be viewed here.