Cal. Civ. Code § 20-705.1
Md. Code Ann., State Gov't Art. Title 20 — Fair Housing and Anti-Discrimination
Operative Text
(a) (1) In this section, “income–based housing subsidy” means recurring monetary assistance to a landlord from a governmental entity or nonprofit organization that is intended to defray, in whole or in part, a tenant’s rent obligation. (2) “Income–based housing subsidy” includes low–income housing assistance certificates and vouchers issued under the United States Housing Act of 1937. (b) Except as authorized under federal law, a landlord of residential rental property that uses financial information, including credit history, as part of a prospective tenant’s rental application may not refuse to rent to a prospective tenant who pays rent with the assistance of an income–based housing subsidy on the basis of: (1) the prospective tenant’s income; (2) the prospective tenant’s credit score or lack of credit score; or (3) any adverse credit history that arose during a period when the prospective tenant did not have an income–based housing subsidy, if the period during which the tenant did not have the subsidy is confirmed by: (i) the applicant; (ii) voucher paperwork; (iii) documents provided by a public housing authority; or (iv) a public housing authority in response to a request by the landlord. (c) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, a landlord may not require that a public housing authority verify applicable dates for the subsidy for purposes of assessing the tenant’s credit history. (d) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, a landlord that receives funding from a governmental entity, a quasi–governmental entity, or a nonprofit organization that requires income qualification for tenants in income–restricted rental units may collect financial information from a prospective tenant if the collection of financial information is a condition of the funding. (e) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, a landlord of residential rental property may require verification that a tenant has sufficient income to pay the portion of rent not covered by the income–based housing subsidy using an income to tenant’s portion of rent ratio that is substantially equivalent to the ratio used by the landlord for nonsubsidized tenants. (f) A landlord of residential rental property may refuse to rent to a prospective tenant who pays rent with the assistance of an income–based housing subsidy on the basis of any commercially reasonable and nondiscriminatory use of: (1) a reference from a previous or current landlord of the tenant; or (2) the tenant’s history of violating a lease, failing to pay utilities, creating a nuisance, or damaging property.
Maryland Code § 20-705.1 restricts how landlords who use financial screening criteria may evaluate applicants who rely on income-based housing subsidies, such as Section 8 vouchers. A landlord covered by this provision cannot reject a subsidized applicant solely because of their income level, credit score, or adverse credit history that occurred before they received a subsidy — provided that subsidy-free period is documented. The rule does carve out limited exceptions, allowing landlords to verify that an applicant can cover their share of the rent, to consider landlord references, and to weigh documented lease-violation history.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 20-705.1, residential landlords who incorporate credit or financial screening into their application process must adjust how they evaluate subsidy-assisted applicants. A compliant operator generally avoids blanket income or credit-score disqualifications for voucher holders, and instead limits financial review to whether the applicant can cover the tenant-paid portion of rent using a ratio consistent with what is applied to non-subsidized applicants. Landlords may still conduct reference checks and review documented histories of lease violations, unpaid utilities, nuisance behavior, or property damage, as long as those criteria are applied in a commercially reasonable and nondiscriminatory manner.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 20-705.1 of the Maryland Code gives prospective tenants who use housing subsidies — including Section 8 vouchers — protection against certain credit-based rejections. If a landlord denies an application citing income, a low or absent credit score, or negative credit history from a period before the subsidy was received, that denial may constitute a violation of this provision, and the documented subsidy-free period can be confirmed through voucher paperwork or a public housing authority. Tenants who believe their rights under § 20-705.1 have been violated may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization, a fair housing agency, or the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights to explore available complaint processes.
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 27, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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