Cal. Civ. Code § 5-102
Md. Code, Hous. & Cmty. Dev. — tenant-facing provisions (Titles 5, 7; §§ 4-2911, 4-2914, 4-2918)
Operative Text
(a) There is an Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs in the Department. (b) The purpose of the Office is to: (1) ensure that tenants have access to educational resources to aid in understanding and exercising the tenants’ rights under State law; (2) provide tenants with information on how to report a violation of their legal rights as tenants and facilitate referrals of reported violations to appropriate enforcement agencies; (3) provide tenants with information on how to obtain financial counseling; and (4) notify appropriate authorities regarding housing discrimination and other unfair or illegal housing practices.
Section 5-102 of the Maryland Housing and Community Development Code establishes the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs within the Department, assigning it four core functions: educating tenants about their rights under State law, informing tenants how to report legal violations and routing those reports to the right enforcement agencies, connecting tenants with financial counseling information, and alerting appropriate authorities about housing discrimination or other unlawful housing practices. The Office serves as a centralized resource and referral hub rather than a direct enforcement body. Its existence reflects a legislative intent to bridge the gap between tenants' legal rights and their practical ability to exercise those rights.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 5-102, the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs operates as a state-level resource that may receive and refer tenant complaints to enforcement agencies, meaning that tenant-reported concerns can be channeled to the bodies with actual enforcement authority. Property owners and managers who maintain transparent communication with tenants and operate in compliance with Maryland State law are generally better positioned when complaints are referred through this process. Familiarity with the Office's role can help operators understand how tenant grievances may be escalated within the state system.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 5-102 creates the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs specifically to help tenants like you understand your rights under Maryland State law and learn how to report violations of those rights. The Office is designed to facilitate referrals to enforcement agencies when violations are reported, and it can also point tenants toward financial counseling resources and notify authorities about housing discrimination or unfair practices. Tenants who believe their rights have been violated may consider reaching out to the Office as a starting point, alongside consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Maryland law.
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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