(a) In this section, “reusable tenant screening report” means a report prepared within the previous 30 days by a consumer reporting agency at the request and expense of a prospective tenant and made directly available to a prospective landlord at no charge for use in the rental application process.
(b) A reusable tenant screening report shall contain the following information regarding a prospective tenant:
(1) A credit report;
(2) For each jurisdiction indicated as a prior residence of the prospective tenant, regardless of whether the residence is reported by the prospective tenant or by a consumer reporting agency preparing a consumer report:
(i) A comprehensive criminal history records check for all federal, state, and local charges against and convictions of the prospective tenant over the previous 7 years; and
(ii) A comprehensive eviction history for all state and local jurisdictions for the previous 7 years;
(3) Verification of employment and income; and
(4) Current address and rental history.
(c) (1) A landlord shall notify prospective tenants regarding whether or not the landlord accepts reusable tenant screening reports.
(2) Notice under paragraph (1) of this subsection may be in writing or by posting notice in a conspicuous manner, including:
(i) A statement posted on a rental housing listing;
(ii) Notice posted on the homepage of a website;
(iii) Information provided in the rental application page for a rental property online; or
(iv) Any other manner reasonably calculated to provide potential tenants with notice.
(d) If a prospective tenant provides a reusable tenant screening report to a landlord that accepts reusable tenant screening reports, the landlord may not charge the prospective tenant:
(1) A fee for the landlord to access the report; or
(2) An application fee.
(e) A landlord that accepts a reusable tenant screening report under this section may require a prospective tenant to certify that there has not been a material change to the tenant’s name, address, bankruptcy status, criminal history, or eviction history since the date that the report was generated.
(f) Prior to the execution of a lease agreement, a landlord may reject an application for tenancy if a prospective tenant made a material change to a reusable tenant screening report.
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