Havre de Grace is a small waterfront city in Harford County, Maryland, situated at the confluence of the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay. While the city's population hovers around 15,000 residents, a meaningful share of households rent, and many tenants are unfamiliar with the specific rights Maryland law affords them.
Because Havre de Grace has not enacted any local landlord-tenant ordinances beyond state requirements, the governing framework is Maryland's Real Property Article, Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. §§ 8-201 through 8-604. Those statutes cover security deposits, habitability, eviction procedure, anti-retaliation protections, and prohibited landlord conduct. Understanding these statewide rules is the most important step any Havre de Grace renter can take.
This page summarizes the key protections that apply to renters in Havre de Grace as of April 2026. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws can change, and individual circumstances vary — consult a licensed Maryland attorney or a legal aid organization for guidance specific to your situation.
No Rent Control in Havre de Grace. The city of Havre de Grace and Harford County have not adopted any rent stabilization or rent control ordinance. Maryland state law does not include a blanket statewide preemption statute barring all localities from enacting rent control (unlike some other states), but no such local law currently exists in Havre de Grace or the surrounding county.
In practice, this means a landlord may raise your rent by any amount upon the expiration of your lease term or, for a month-to-month tenancy, after providing one full rental period's written notice under Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-402. There is no cap on the size of a rent increase. Tenants should carefully review lease renewal offers and factor in the possibility of significant rent increases when budgeting.
Implied Warranty of Habitability (Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-211). Maryland landlords must maintain rental units in a condition fit for human habitation throughout the tenancy. This includes functioning heat, plumbing, structural soundness, and freedom from serious pest infestation. If a landlord fails to make essential repairs after written notice, a tenant may file a Rent Escrow action in District Court to pay rent into court until repairs are completed.
Security Deposit Rules (Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203). Landlords may charge a maximum security deposit of one month's rent (for a lease entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2024; up to two months' rent only if the tenant qualifies for utility assistance and both parties agree in writing). The deposit must be held in a federally insured account and, at the tenant's request, must earn interest. The landlord must return the deposit — with an itemized written statement of any deductions — within 45 days after the tenancy ends.
Notice Requirements (Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-402). For month-to-month tenancies, the landlord must give at least 60 days' written notice to terminate the tenancy. For week-to-week tenancies, one week's notice is required. Notices must be in writing to be enforceable.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208.1). A landlord may not evict, raise rent, reduce services, or otherwise retaliate against a tenant for complaining in good faith to a government authority about housing code violations, or for exercising any right under Maryland law. If a landlord takes adverse action within 90 days of protected activity, retaliation is presumed, shifting the burden to the landlord to prove a legitimate reason.
Prohibition on Lockouts and Utility Shutoffs (Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-211(d); § 8-216). Self-help eviction is illegal in Maryland. A landlord may not change locks, remove doors or windows, or interrupt utility service to force a tenant out. Violations expose the landlord to civil liability for actual damages, attorney fees, and additional penalties.
Right to Receive Lease Terms in Writing (Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208). For any tenancy of at least 90 days, a landlord must provide a written lease if the tenant requests one. The statute also specifies terms that are prohibited in leases (e.g., waiving the warranty of habitability).
Recent Law Changes (2024-2025): The Renters' Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024 (HB 693, Chapter 124), effective October 1, 2024, capped security deposits at one month's rent, requires a landlord to give a tenant at least 10 days' written notice before filing a failure-to-pay-rent eviction, grants tenants in residential rental properties of three or fewer units a right of first refusal to purchase before a sale, and established a statewide Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs (Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203; HB 693, Ch. 124). Separately, Maryland's statewide Tenants' Bill of Rights, administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development and effective October 1, 2025, requires landlords to attach the current DHCD Tenants' Bill of Rights document to every residential lease, with the lease-attachment requirement beginning July 1, 2025. See dhcd.maryland.gov.
Under Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203, a landlord in Havre de Grace may collect a security deposit of no more than one month's rent (for a lease entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2024; up to two months' rent only if the tenant qualifies for utility assistance and both parties agree in writing). The deposit must be held in a federally insured interest-bearing account, separate from the landlord's personal funds. The landlord must provide the tenant with written notice of the financial institution and account number within 30 days of receiving the deposit.
Return Deadline. Within 45 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant vacates, the landlord must return the full deposit plus accrued interest, minus any lawful deductions. Any deductions must be itemized in writing and sent to the tenant's last known address. Deductions are only permitted for unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, and certain other specified costs.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding. If a court finds that a landlord wrongfully withheld any portion of the security deposit, the landlord may be liable for up to three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney fees (Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(e)). To protect your rights, document the unit's condition with dated photos and video at move-in and move-out, and provide your forwarding address in writing.
Maryland's eviction process is governed by Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-401 through 8-407. Landlords in Havre de Grace must follow the court process; self-help eviction (changing locks, removing belongings, shutting off utilities) is illegal under § 8-216 and exposes the landlord to civil liability.
Step 1 — Written Notice. The type and length of notice depend on the reason for eviction:
• Failure to Pay Rent: The landlord may file in court immediately, but must first provide a written notice demanding payment or possession. A formal 10-day notice is commonly used before filing (Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-401).
• Breach of Lease / Holding Over: For a tenant who violates the lease or stays after the lease term, the landlord must provide written notice consistent with the tenancy period — at least 60 days for a month-to-month tenancy (§ 8-402).
• Month-to-Month Termination: At least 60 days' written notice is required to end a periodic tenancy without cause (§ 8-402).
Step 2 — Filing in District Court. The landlord files a complaint in Harford County District Court (located in Bel Air). For failure to pay rent, the court schedules a hearing typically within 5–10 days. For breach of lease or tenant holding over, the timeline may be longer.
Step 3 — Court Hearing. Both parties may appear and present evidence. Tenants have the right to raise defenses, including payment of all owed rent before or at the hearing (for nonpayment cases) and retaliatory eviction under § 8-208.1. If the court rules for the landlord, a judgment for possession is issued.
Step 4 — Warrant of Restitution. If the tenant does not vacate voluntarily after judgment, the landlord may request a warrant of restitution. A sheriff or constable — not the landlord — enforces the warrant and supervises the physical removal of the tenant (§ 8-401(c)).
No Just Cause Requirement. Havre de Grace and Harford County do not require a landlord to have just cause to end a tenancy at the end of a lease term. The landlord need only provide proper notice and follow the court process.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws can change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation. If you have questions about your rights as a renter in Havre de Grace or anywhere in Maryland, please consult a licensed Maryland attorney or contact a legal aid organization such as Maryland Legal Aid. Always verify current statutes and local ordinances independently, as laws may have been amended after the last updated date shown on this page.
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