Cal. Civ. Code § 8-329
Md. Code Ann., Real Property Art. Title 8 — Landlord and Tenant
Operative Text
(a) If a lease for more than three months is assigned, the assignee is liable to distress for any goods on the leased premises as though originally named in the lease as tenant. (b) Any goods of the assignee on the leased premises shall be subject to the landlord’s distress claim to the same extent as though the assignee was originally a tenant. This liability of goods exists regardless of whether the assignment was oral or written and regardless of the terms set out in the assignment. The obligation of the assignee of the lease for personal liability shall be restricted to the terms and agreements contained in the assignment of lease. The exercise of any right of the landlord against the assignee provided in this section does not bar any rights the landlord may have against the assignor.
Under Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 8-329, when a lease lasting more than three months is assigned to a new party, that assignee steps into a position where their goods on the leased premises can be subject to the landlord's distress claim — a legal remedy allowing a landlord to seize property for unpaid rent — just as if the assignee had been the original tenant. This applies whether the assignment was made orally or in writing, and regardless of what the assignment document itself says about liability. Importantly, the assignee's personal financial obligations are limited to what is spelled out in the assignment agreement itself, and the landlord retains the right to pursue the original assignor as well.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 8-329, compliant operators who accept a lease assignment on a tenancy of more than three months generally understand that their distress rights over goods on the premises extend to the assignee's property, regardless of how the assignment was structured or communicated. Operators typically document the terms of any assignment clearly, since the assignee's personal liability is confined to what that assignment agreement specifies. Retaining records of both the original lease and the assignment agreement helps preserve the option to pursue either the assignor or the assignee should a rent dispute arise.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
If you have taken over a lease as an assignee, § 8-329 means that your personal belongings on the premises could be subject to a landlord's distress claim for unpaid rent, even if the assignment was informal or oral. However, your personal financial liability is generally limited to the terms actually contained in your assignment agreement — not necessarily the full scope of the original lease. Tenants in this situation may find it useful to review the assignment document carefully, consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with Maryland law, or explore whether raising the scope of the assignment agreement is relevant to any dispute.
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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