A Maryland month-to-month rental agreement is a contract (not necessarily in writing) which allows a tenant to rent property from a landlord, for one month at a time, in exchange for a fee (“rent”). The rental renews monthly, until either party gives proper notice to end it.
For information about fixed-term leases in Maryland (i.e., a term of one year or more), click here .In Maryland, a landlord and tenant create a month-to-month lease by agreeing to rent a property according to acceptable terms. Written rental agreements are clearer and legally stronger, but oral leases are legal in a month-to-month context. Parties under a month-to-month lease enjoy full rights under Maryland landlord-tenant law. The tenant must use the property in a responsible way and pay rent on time. The landlord must keep essential features of the property in habitable condition, and protect the tenant’s quiet enjoyment of the lease. The main difference between a month-to-month lease and a fixed-term lease is that month-to-month leases can be terminated (with proper notice) by either party for any reason without penalty. Landlords also can usually modify terms from one month to the next, again with proper notice.
Maryland lets a landlord terminate a month-to-month lease with at least 60 days of advance notice, written notice only. A tenant, however, may terminate a month-to-month lease with 30 days of advance notice, which may be verbal. [1] [2]
In general, any reason that isn’t landlord retaliation is a legal and valid grounds for ending a month-to-month lease.
Maryland requires that notice for a rental increase be delivered in writing, but doesn’t specify a particular timeframe for that notice. This means in most cases it’s reasonable for a landlord to keep the same standard advance notice provided for termination or other major lease changes, which in Maryland is 60 days. [1]
Maryland tenants may face eviction for violating a month-to-month lease or remaining on the property after the notice period allowed by a valid termination. Evictions in Maryland typically take one to five months.
For more information on the eviction process in Maryland, click here .
Except as provided in paragraphs (3) [special tenant rules] and (4) [special rules for foreclosure] of this subsection, a landlord shall provide written notice of the intent to terminate a tenancy:
(i) If the parties have a written lease for a stated term in excess of 1 week or a tenancy from month to month, 60 days before the expiration of the tenancy;
(ii) In the case of tenancies from year to year, including tobacco farm tenancies from year to year but excluding all other farm tenancies from year to year, 90 days before the expiration of the current year of the tenancy;
(iii) In the case of tenancies from year to year for all other farm tenancies, 180 days before the expiration of the current year of the tenancy; and
(iv) In the case of tenancies from week to week:
1. If the parties have a written lease, 7 days before the expiration of the tenancy; or
2. If the parties do not have a written lease, 21 days before the expiration of the tenancy.
When the tenant shall give notice by parol [i.e. verbally] to the landlord or to the landlord’s agent or representatives, at least 30 days before the expiration of the lease or tenancy in all cases except in cases of tenancies from year to year, and at least 90 days’ notice in all cases of tenancy from year to year (except in all cases of farm tenancy, the notice shall be 180 days), of the intention of the tenant to remove at the end of that year and to surrender possession of the property at that time, and the landlord, the landlord’s agent, or representative shall prove the notice from the tenant by competent testimony, it shall not be necessary for the landlord, the landlord’s agent or representative to provide a written notice to the tenant, but the proof of such notice from the tenant as aforesaid shall entitle the landlord to recover possession of the property hereunder.
How does a month-to-month lease work in Maryland? How does a month-to-month lease work in Maryland? In Maryland, a month-to-month lease means the tenant resides in the rental unit for one month at a time. At the end of that month, the lease will either be renewed or terminated with proper written notice. Read more » How many days’ notice is required to terminate a month-to-month lease in Maryland? How many days’ notice is required to terminate a month-to-month lease in Maryland? 30 days’ written notice is required to terminate a month-to-month lease in Maryland, and can be given by either the landlord or the tenant at any time, and for any reason. If the lease is terminated for a lease violation, however, the required notice period will vary. Read more » How do I terminate a month-to-month lease in Maryland? How do I terminate a month-to-month lease in Maryland? You may terminate a month-to-month lease in Maryland by providing the other party with at least 30 days’ written notice. The tenant or the landlord may provide this written notice at any time and for any reason. Read more »
