(a) This section does not apply to a tenant under a residential lease that contains a liquidated damages clause or early termination clause that:
(1) Requires written notice to vacate of 1 month or less; and
(2) Imposes liability for rent less than or equal to 2 months’ rent after the date on which the tenant vacates the leased premises.
(b) Subject to subsection (a) of this section and notwithstanding any other provision of this title, if a tenant under a residential lease meets the conditions set forth in subsection (c) of this section, the tenant’s liability for rent under the lease may not exceed 2 months’ rent after the date on which the tenant vacates the leased premises.
(c) To qualify for the limitation of liability under subsection (b) of this section, the tenant shall provide to the landlord before the tenant vacates the leased premises:
(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, a written certification from a physician regarding an individual who is a named party in, or an authorized occupant under the terms of, the lease that states in substantially the following form:
“I, (name of physician), hereby certify that my patient, (name of patient), is no longer able to live at his or her leased premises, (address of leased premises), because the patient has a medical condition that:
(1) Substantially restricts the physical mobility of the patient within, or from entering and exiting, the leased premises; or
(2) Requires the patient to move to a home, facility, or institution to obtain a higher level of care than can be provided at the leased premises.
I certify further that the expected duration of the patient’s medical condition will continue beyond the termination date of the patient’s lease, which the patient states is (termination date of lease).”; and
(2) A written notice of the termination of the lease stating the date by when the tenant will vacate the leased premises.
(d) A certification that is provided to a landlord under subsection (c)(1) of this section shall be:
(1) Written by a physician who is licensed by the State Board of Physicians to practice medicine in the State under Title 14 of the Health Occupations Article;
(2) Prepared on the letterhead or printed prescription form of the physician; and
(3) Signed by the physician.
Structure Maryland Statutes
Subtitle 2 - Residential Leases
Section 8-201 - Applicability of Subtitle
Section 8-202 - Lease Option Agreements
Section 8-203 - Security Deposits
Section 8-203.1 - Security Deposit Receipt
Section 8-204 - Covenant of Quiet Enjoyment
Section 8-205 - Landlord to Give Tenant Receipt
Section 8-205.1 - Payments for Water or Sewer Utility Services to Landlord
Section 8-206 - Retaliatory Evictions in Montgomery County
Section 8-208.1 - Retaliatory Actions
Section 8-208.2 - Retaliatory Actions for Informing Landlord of Lead Poisoning Hazards
Section 8-208.3 - Landlord to Maintain Record of Rent Paid
Section 8-210 - Information to Be Posted or Provided by Landlord
Section 8-211 - Repair of Dangerous Defects; Rent Escrow
Section 8-211.1 - Failure of Lessor to Remove Lead-Based Paint; Rent Escrow
Section 8-212.1 - Liability of Military Personnel Receiving Certain Orders
Section 8-212.2 - Limitation of Liability of a Tenant for Rent
Section 8-212.3 - Deduction From Rent for Utility Payments by Tenant Owed by Landlord
Section 8-213 - Applications for Leases; Deposits
Section 8-214 - Keeping of Household Pets by Elderly Persons in Montgomery County
Section 8-215 - Termination of Lease for Failure to Comply With Applicable Risk Reduction
Section 8-216 - Prohibition on Nonjudicial Evictions by Willful Diminution of Services