The Montgomery County Council is considering Bill 19-15 to:
• Require landlords to offer 2 year leases at each renewal
• End excessive month-to-month lease fees
• Increase code inspections
• Require the use of clear, legal "model" County leases
• Publish information about landlords who raise rents 100-150 percent higher than County recommended guidelines
• Require landlords to distribute the Landlord/Tenant handbook at lease signing
• Require accurate and thorough rental housing data collection for use in public policy
Why is this important?
More than 36% of Montgomery County residents now live in rental housing, and the number is rising at a hurried pace along with rental housing construction. But renters face increasing challenges from irresponsible landlords who raise rents excessively, fail to maintain their buildings, provide illegal, defective and confusing leases and resist tenant organizing and tenants’ pursuit of required and promised services. Bill 19-15 is a common-sense, first step to addressing some of these issues. Help us convince the Montgomery County Council that renters are our neighbors, friends, customers, workers, veterans and retirees and community participants who deserve to live in stable, quality buildings and communities without fear of losing their homes.
The Montgomery County Renters Alliance