Cal. Civ. Code § 8-211.1
Md. Code Ann., Real Property Art. Title 8 — Landlord and Tenant
Operative Text
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law or any agreement, whether written or oral, if a landlord fails to comply with the applicable risk reduction standard under § 6-815 or § 6-819 of the Environment Article, the tenant may deposit the tenant’s rent in an escrow account with the clerk of the District Court for the district in which the premises are located. (b) The right of a tenant to deposit rent in an escrow account does not preclude the tenant from pursuing any other right or remedy available to the tenant at law or equity and is in addition to them. (c) Money deposited in an escrow account shall be released under the following terms and conditions: (1) To the lessor upon compliance by the lessor with the applicable risk reduction standard; or (2) To the lessee or any other person who has complied with the applicable risk reduction standard on presentation of a bill for the reasonable costs of complying with the applicable risk reduction standard. (d) A lessee may not be evicted, the tenancy may not be terminated, and the rent may not be raised for a lessee who elects to seek the remedies under this section. It shall be presumed that any attempt to evict the lessee, to terminate the tenancy, or to raise the rent, except for nonpayment of rent, within two months after compliance with the applicable risk reduction standard is in retaliation for the lessee’s proceeding under this section and shall be void. (e) This section shall preempt any public local law or ordinance concerning the deposit of rent into an escrow account based upon the existence of paint containing lead pigment on surfaces in or on a rental dwelling unit in the State and disposition of that rent.
Maryland Real Property § 8-211.1 establishes a rent escrow remedy tied to lead-paint risk reduction standards found in the Environment Article. When a landlord fails to meet those standards, a tenant may deposit rent with the District Court clerk rather than paying it directly to the landlord. Escrowed funds are released to the landlord once compliance is achieved, or to the tenant (or another party) who paid for the remediation work. The provision also bars retaliatory evictions, rent increases, or lease terminations against tenants who use this remedy, and it overrides any local ordinances on the same subject.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 8-211.1, property owners who fail to meet the lead-paint risk reduction standards set out in the Environment Article expose themselves to the loss of direct rent payments, which a tenant may instead deposit into a District Court escrow account. Compliant operators generally maintain documentation showing they have satisfied the applicable risk reduction standard under § 6-815 or § 6-819 of the Environment Article, so that escrowed funds can be released promptly upon demonstration of compliance. Landlords should also be aware that taking adverse action—such as raising rent or initiating eviction proceedings—within two months of achieving compliance may be presumed retaliatory and void under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 8-211.1 of the Maryland Real Property Code gives tenants a specific tool when a landlord has not met the applicable lead-paint risk reduction standard: the option to deposit rent into an escrow account held by the clerk of the District Court for the district where the rental property is located. Using this remedy does not eliminate any other legal or equitable rights a tenant may have, and the provision explicitly protects tenants from eviction, lease termination, or rent increases in retaliation for exercising it. Tenants who believe this provision applies to their situation may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand the full range of options available under § 8-211.1 and related provisions of the Environment Article.
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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