Cal. Civ. Code § 8-319
Md. Code Ann., Real Property Art. Title 8 — Landlord and Tenant
Operative Text
Sales under distress shall be held only at public auction. The officer may remove the goods from the leased premises to some suitable place for auction or hold the sale on the leased premises. Cost of the removal of goods for sale shall be included as costs of the sale.
Under Maryland Real Property § 8-319, when a landlord pursues a distress action to collect unpaid rent by seizing a tenant's goods, any resulting sale of those goods must be conducted as a public auction — private sales are not permitted. The officer carrying out the distress may either move the seized goods to another suitable location or conduct the auction on the rental property itself. Any costs incurred from moving the goods are treated as costs of the sale, which are factored into the overall distress proceeding.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Maryland Real Property § 8-319 governs how distress sales must be conducted, and compliant operators understand that a distress action culminating in a sale requires a public auction format — no private or negotiated sale of seized goods is allowed. The officer handling the distress has discretion over whether to hold the auction on-site or at another suitable location, and removal costs are properly accounted for as sale costs. Property managers who pursue distress remedies generally work with qualified legal counsel familiar with Maryland's distress procedures to ensure each step meets statutory requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Maryland Real Property § 8-319 provides tenants with a meaningful protection: if a landlord initiates a distress action and proceeds to sell seized goods, that sale must be held as a public auction, not a private transaction. Tenants who believe a distress sale was conducted improperly — for example, without a public auction — may have grounds to raise that procedural violation in a legal proceeding. Tenant-rights organizations in Maryland can help explain what remedies may be available when the requirements of § 8-319 are not followed.
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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