Cal. Civ. Code § 8-212.2
Md. Code Ann., Real Property Art. Title 8 — Landlord and Tenant
Operative Text
(a) In this section, “mental disorder” has the meaning stated in § 10–101 of the Health – General Article. (b) This section does not apply to a tenant under a residential lease that contains a liquidated damages clause or early termination clause that: (1) Requires written notice to vacate of 1 month or less; and (2) Imposes liability for rent less than or equal to 2 months’ rent after the date on which the tenant vacates the leased premises. (c) Subject to subsection (b) of this section and notwithstanding any other provision of this title, if a tenant under a residential lease meets the conditions set forth in subsection (d) of this section, the tenant’s liability for rent under the lease may not exceed 2 months’ rent after the date on which the tenant vacates the leased premises. (d) To qualify for the limitation of liability under subsection (c) of this section, the tenant shall provide to the landlord before the tenant vacates the leased premises: (1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, a written certification from a physician or psychologist regarding an individual who is a named party in, or an authorized occupant under the terms of, the lease that states in substantially the following form: “I, (name of physician or psychologist), hereby certify that my patient, (name of patient), is no longer able to live at his or her leased premises, (address of leased premises), because the patient has a medical condition that: (1) Substantially restricts the physical mobility of the patient within, or from entering and exiting, the leased premises; (2) Requires the patient to move to a home, facility, or institution to obtain a higher level of care than can be provided at the leased premises; or (3) Is a mental disorder that: (i) Causes the continued habitation of the leased premises to be unfeasible or unsustainable for the patient; or (ii) Requires the patient to move to a home, facility, or institution to obtain a higher level of care than can be provided at the leased premises. I certify further that the expected duration of the patient’s medical condition will continue beyond the termination date of the patient’s lease, which the patient states is (termination date of lease).”; and (2) A written notice of the termination of the lease stating the date by when the tenant will vacate the leased premises. (e) A certification that is provided to a landlord under subsection (d)(1) of this section shall be: (1) Written by: (i) A physician who is licensed by the State Board of Physicians to practice medicine in the State under Title 14 of the Health Occupations Article; or (ii) A psychologist who is licensed by the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists to practice psychology in the State under Title 18 of the Health Occupations Article; (2) Prepared on the letterhead or printed prescription form of the physician or psychologist; and (3) Signed by the physician or psychologist.
Maryland Real Property § 8-212.2 establishes a cap on how much rent a tenant can owe after leaving a rental unit early due to a qualifying medical condition. If the tenant provides the landlord with a properly formatted physician or psychologist certification and a written vacate notice before leaving, their rent liability is limited to no more than two months' rent from the date they vacate. This protection applies to named lease parties and authorized occupants whose condition substantially restricts physical mobility, requires a higher level of care, or involves a mental disorder making continued habitation unfeasible. Leases that already include an early termination clause requiring one month or less notice and capping liability at two months or less are not covered by this section.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 8-212.2, landlords who receive a qualifying medical certification and written vacate notice from a tenant are generally limited to collecting no more than two months' rent after the tenant's move-out date, regardless of how much time remains on the lease. Compliant operators typically review the certification to confirm it is written on official letterhead, signed by a Maryland-licensed physician or psychologist, and follows the statutory language described in the provision. Operators also generally document the date the certification and vacate notice were received, since the tenant's liability cap is tied to when they actually vacate the premises.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 8-212.2 of the Maryland Real Property Code gives tenants with certain serious medical conditions a legal pathway to limit their financial exposure when they must leave a rental early. To access this protection, a tenant generally needs to obtain a written certification from a licensed Maryland physician or psychologist—prepared on official letterhead and following the form described in the statute—along with a written notice of the intended vacate date, both delivered to the landlord before moving out. Tenants who believe this provision applies to their situation may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office familiar with Maryland landlord-tenant law to understand how the certification requirements and timing interact with their specific lease terms.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.