Operative Text
A park owner may charge a late payment fee if: (1) The rental agreement provides for the fee; (2) The fee does not exceed 5 percent of the rent due or $5, whichever is higher; and (3) The rent is not paid within 5 days after the due date specified in the rental agreement.
Under Maryland Real Property § 8A-404, a mobile home park owner is permitted to assess a late fee on overdue rent, but only when three conditions are all met: the rental agreement explicitly includes a late fee provision, the fee does not exceed 5 percent of the rent due or five dollars—whichever is the greater amount—and the rent remains unpaid more than five days past its contractual due date. This rule sets both a procedural and a financial ceiling on late charges in mobile home park tenancies. No late fee may be imposed if any one of these conditions is absent.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Park owners and managers operating under Maryland Real Property § 8A-404 generally ensure that any late fee provision is clearly written into the rental agreement before attempting to collect such a charge. Compliant operators calculate the fee carefully, confirming it does not exceed the greater of 5 percent of the rent owed or five dollars, and they apply the charge only after the five-day grace period following the contractual due date has elapsed. Maintaining clear records of due dates, payment receipts, and fee calculations helps demonstrate adherence to the statute's requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Maryland Real Property § 8A-404 gives mobile home park residents specific protections against excessive or improperly imposed late fees. If a late fee is charged without a written provision in the rental agreement, before the five-day grace period has passed, or in an amount exceeding the statutory cap, a tenant may have grounds to dispute the charge. Tenants who believe a late fee has been improperly assessed can review their rental agreement, document the payment timeline, and consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or Maryland legal aid office 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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