Cal. Civ. Code § 8-104
Md. Code Ann., Real Property Art. Title 8 — Landlord and Tenant
Operative Text
Any grant of a nonpossessory corporeal estate is valid and effective without the attornment of the tenant in possession. However, any payment of rent by the tenant to the grantor of the grant prior to actual notice of the grant is an effective discharge of liability for the rent.
Under Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 8-104, when a landlord transfers a property interest to another party, that transfer is legally valid even if the tenant never formally acknowledges or consents to it. However, if a tenant pays rent to the original landlord before receiving actual notice of the transfer, that payment fully satisfies the tenant's rent obligation for that period, regardless of the new owner's claim to the same funds.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 8-104, operators who transfer a nonpossessory corporeal estate should ensure that tenants receive actual notice of the grant promptly, because any rent a tenant pays to the prior owner before receiving that notice is treated as a valid discharge of the tenant's obligation. A compliant property manager typically documents when and how notice was delivered to each tenant so that there is a clear record of the effective date. Failure to provide timely notice can result in the new owner bearing the loss for rent already paid to the grantor.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 8-104 of the Maryland Real Property Code protects tenants who pay rent to their original landlord before learning of a property transfer — such payments are considered fully valid and cannot be reclaimed by a new owner. Tenants generally benefit from keeping records of all rent payments, including receipts and bank statements, in case a dispute arises about whether payment was made before or after actual notice of a transfer. If a new owner demands rent that was already paid to the prior landlord under these circumstances, tenant-rights organizations or a local legal aid office can help clarify how § 8-104 may apply.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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