Cal. Civ. Code § 8-111
Md. Code Ann., Real Property Art. Title 8 — Landlord and Tenant
Operative Text
If a tenant named in a lease or an assignee of a lease applies to the tenant’s landlord for a renewal under a covenant in the lease giving the tenant the right to renewal, and if the tenant cannot produce vouchers or satisfactory evidence showing payment of rent accrued for three years next preceding the tenant’s demand and application, the landlord, before executing the renewal of the lease or causing it to be executed, is entitled to demand and recover not more than three years’ back rent, in addition to any renewal fine that may be provided for in the lease. The tenant may plead this section in bar of the recovery of any larger amount of rent.
Under Maryland Real Property § 8-111, when a tenant or lease assignee seeks to renew a lease that contains a renewal covenant, the landlord's ability to collect back rent at the time of renewal is capped. Specifically, if the tenant cannot document rent payments for the three years before the renewal request, the landlord may demand no more than three years' worth of back rent, plus any renewal fine spelled out in the lease. Any attempt to collect a larger amount of back rent is barred by this provision, which the tenant may invoke as a legal defense.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Maryland Real Property § 8-111, landlords processing a lease renewal under a renewal covenant should be aware that their ability to collect unpaid back rent at that moment is limited to a maximum of three years' worth, even if the tenancy extends further back. Compliant operators typically document rent payment histories and communicate clearly with tenants about any outstanding balances before initiating the renewal process. Any renewal fine expressly provided for in the lease may still be collected in addition to the capped back-rent amount.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Maryland Real Property § 8-111 gives tenants and lease assignees a statutory defense against a landlord seeking more than three years of back rent at the time of a lease renewal under a renewal covenant. If a landlord attempts to collect a larger amount as a condition of renewal, a tenant may raise this section as a bar to that recovery in any legal proceeding. Tenants who believe this protection is being violated may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Maryland landlord-tenant law for general information about available options.
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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