Cal. Civ. Code § 8-118
Md. Code Ann., Real Property Art. Title 8 — Landlord and Tenant
Operative Text
(a) In an action under § 8-401, § 8-402, or § 8-402.1 of this title in which a party demands a jury trial, the District Court immediately shall enter an order directing the tenant or anyone holding under the tenant to pay all rents as they come due during the pendency of the action, as prescribed in subsection (b) of this section. The order shall require the rent to be paid as and when due under the lease starting with the next rent due date after the action was filed. (b) The District Court shall order that the rents be paid: (1) Into the registry of an escrow account of: (i) The clerk of the circuit court; or (ii) If directed by the District Court, an administrative agency of the county which is empowered by local law to hold rents in escrow pending investigation and disposition of complaints by tenants; or (2) To the landlord if both the tenant and landlord agree or at the discretion of the District Court. (c) (1) In an action under § 8-401, § 8-402, or § 8-402.1 of this title, if the tenant or anyone holding under the tenant fails to pay rent as it comes due pursuant to the terms of the order, the circuit court, on motion of the landlord and certification of the clerk, the landlord, or agency of the status of the delinquent account, shall conduct a hearing within 30 days. (2) The District Court’s escrow order and the clerk’s certification are presumed to be valid. (3) The tenant may dispute the validity or terms of the District Court’s escrow order or raise any other defense to the tenant’s alleged noncompliance with the order. (4) If the circuit court determines that the failure to pay is without legal justification, the court may treat the tenant’s demand for jury trial as waived, and can either immediately conduct a nonjury trial or set the matter for a future nonjury trial on the merits of the landlord’s claim. (d) Upon final disposition of the action, the circuit court shall order distribution of the rent escrow account in accordance with the judgment. If no judgment is entered, the circuit court shall order distribution to the party entitled to the rent escrow account after hearing.
Under Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 8-118, when a tenant demands a jury trial in certain eviction or rent-related actions, the District Court must immediately order that rent continue to be paid as it comes due during the case — either into an escrow account held by the circuit court clerk or a designated county agency, or directly to the landlord if both parties agree or the court so directs. If the tenant fails to keep up with those payments, the circuit court can hold a hearing and, if it finds no legal justification for the missed payments, may treat the jury trial demand as waived and proceed to a bench trial. At the end of the case, the court distributes whatever is held in escrow according to the final judgment.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 8-118, when a tenant invokes a jury trial in an action filed under §§ 8-401, 8-402, or 8-402.1, a compliant landlord monitors whether the court's escrow order is being followed and tracks the status of the escrow account throughout the pendency of the action. If the tenant falls behind on the ordered payments, operators generally file a motion with the circuit court and provide certification of the delinquent account to trigger the 30-day hearing process. Upon final disposition, the landlord may seek distribution of the escrowed funds in accordance with the court's judgment.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 8-118 establishes that a tenant who demands a jury trial in covered eviction or rent proceedings has a corresponding obligation to pay rent into escrow — or to the landlord if agreed — as it comes due under the lease while the case is pending. Tenants retain the right under § 8-118(c)(3) to dispute the validity or terms of the escrow order or raise other defenses if a hearing is called over alleged missed payments. Tenants who have questions about how the escrow process works or what defenses may be available can consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office familiar with Maryland landlord-tenant law.
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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