Thinking about Renting a Room in Your House?

by Brandy A. Peeples on October 2, 2012

Collaborative approaches to problem solving are always a good thing. So, why not collaborate in blogging, too? …Especially when there’s good information worth sharing. I received a very complimentary e-mail about this Firm’s blog from my “big fans” and new friends at Homeinsurance.org. Homeinsurance.org prides itself on “Bringing home owners everywhere the latest insurance updates, [...]

I covered this topic in Part 4 of my blog series. However, this topic warrants its own discussion. When can a landlord withhold a security deposit? How much can the landlord withhold? Can a landlord seek damages from the tenant if the costs to repair a tenant’s damage to the rental property exceed the amount [...]

The litigation process can be expensive. And, as most lawyers know, it is also fraught with uncertainty. Attorneys regularly counsel their clients regarding the unpredictability of juries. In my practice I usually tell potential clients that going to court sometimes is no different than going to Atlantic City. Trials can be “crap shoots,” judges seemingly [...]

So Landlord, you’ve already: 1. obtained your rental license; 2. found and approved a qualified tenant; 3. entered into a well-crafted lease agreement that protects both your interests and the tenants; and, 4. properly collected (and provided your tenant with a receipt) and deposited your tenant’s security deposit into an appropriate account. Do your obligations [...]

So you want to be a landlord? Part 4 — The Security Deposit

by Brandy A. Peeples on August 25, 2012

Ok, Landlord. In the words of Inigo Montoya let me “sum up” our journey thus far: 1. You’ve obtained your local jurisdiction’s rental license; 2. You’ve found a qualified, responsible, and trustworthy tenant for your rental property; 3. You’ve negotiated and drafted a lease agreement that protects you, your property, and one that delineates your [...]

Maryland Pit Bull Bill Passes!

August 11, 2012

Maryland lawmakers reconvened in a special session in Annapolis on Thursday to grapple with the recent Maryland Court of Appeals ruling in Tracey v. Solesky, which held that owners and anyone with the power to control the presence of pit bull type dogs or pit bull mixes on the premises is strictly liable for any [...]

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Update on the Maryland Pit Bull Decision

August 9, 2012

In a previous blog entitled “Landlords, Pit Bulls, and Liabiality. Oh my!” I discussed the Maryland Court of Appeals decision in Tracey v. Solesky. In that (in my opinion, bad) decision Maryland’s highest court determined that pit bulls are a dangerous breed of dog and imposed a strict liability standard in cases involving pit bull [...]

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So you want to be a landlord? Part 3 — The Lease Agreement

August 2, 2012

Ok, Landlord.  By now, you should have accomplished the following: 1.  Obtained a rental license (if your county or local jurisdiction requires one); and, 2.  Found a qualified tenant to whom you entrust your property. The next step in the process is to negotiate and enter into a Lease Agreement.  Be careful with this.  I’ve [...]

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“Did we get the house?”

July 26, 2012

Sometimes the biggest highlights and unexpected pleasant surprises in a lawyer’s day come in small packages.  Small meaning:   in the form of an 8 year old boy. But what does an 8 year old boy have to do with a Carroll County Board of Zoning Appeals hearing? Everything. The long and short of the [...]

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So you want to be a landlord? Part 2 — Finding a Qualified Tenant

July 23, 2012

Hopefully by now, Landlord, you have obtained the following: (1) a habitable property to rent (and by that, I mean that the property is compliant with all building, zoning and other applicable codes); and (2) you’ve obtained your local jurisdiction’s rental license (if required). If you haven’t obtained these, stop. DO NOT rent that property….yet. Otherwise, [...]

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