Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs Provides Information and Support to Renters During Health Crisis

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, April 1, 2020

The Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) is providing information and support to county tenants who have questions or are facing difficulties due to COVID-19.

Currently, there is a temporary eviction moratorium in place in Montgomery County and the State of Maryland. The moratorium prohibits landlords from physically removing renters from their homes for any reason. Evictions also may not happen without an eviction order, which cannot occur as long as Maryland courts are closed. Maryland courts are currently closed through May 1.

Montgomery County’s DHCA Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs recommends that tenants experiencing financial distress contact their landlord to discuss their situation and possible payment arrangements. Residents with questions or concerns also are invited to contact the County’s Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs directly by calling 311 or 240-777-0311 if dialing from outside of Montgomery County, submitting an online request, or emailing [email protected].

Residents are also encouraged to review Montgomery County’s Landlord-Tenant Handbook, which offers a description of the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants in Montgomery County.

During the eviction moratorium, landlords are permitted to issue eviction notices pursuant to their lease agreements and to pursue collection actions. However, no court action will be administered as long as the eviction moratorium remains in effect and/or the courts are closed. If a landlord attempts to physically evict a tenant during this moratorium, the tenant can call the police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000.

Some affected residents are pursuing unemployment benefits and many residents will receive a payment from the federal government to help mitigate income losses. Renters who can manage payment arrangements or agreements with landlords will be better positioned when the eviction moratorium is lifted. If a renter has funds to pay their remaining rent bill, at that point, the landlord must accept payment in full and cancel any eviction process.

For more housing information and resources, visit the DHCA website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dhca.

For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit the County’s COVID-19 website and follow Montgomery County on Facebook and Twitter.

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Release ID: 20-156
Media Contact: Lorraine Driscoll 240-777-3627