Breach of Lease

Under Maryland law, a breach of lease occurs when a tenant commits one or more "substantial" lease violation(s). In response, a landlord may file a Complaint for Repossession of Rental Property against Tenant in Breach of Lease and seek an eviction order from the court based on the lease violations. Breach of Lease cases typically arise from incidents involving controlled dangerous substances, destruction of property, serious noise violations, unauthorized residents, etc.  

The litigation process involves serving the tenant with thirty (30) days' notice to vacate the leased premises.  Should the tenant fail to vacate the premises at the end of the notice period, a Complaint for Repossession is filed in the District Court, and merits trial is held in the District Court.

At trial, the landlord must introduce evidence (witnesses, documents, pictures, etc.) which proves a substantial lease violation occurred and that an eviction is warranted.  

If the court enters a Judgment of Possession in favor of the landlord as a result of the lease violation(s), the eviction process is the same as the process in rent cases except the appeal period is 10 days.