Maryland Law
Failure to pay rent
Failure to pay rent is the Maryland District Court case a landlord files to recover a home when a tenant has not paid rent that is due. People often call it rent court.
Failure to pay rent is the court case a Maryland landlord files when rent stays unpaid. The Maryland Courts describe "Rent Court" as the term for Failure to Pay Rent cases heard in the District Court. It is a legal process, not a lock change or a self-help move.
Before filing, the landlord must give the tenant a written notice of intent to file. The tenant has 10 days after that notice is provided to cure the problem. If the tenant does not, the landlord may file a complaint and the court sets a hearing. If the landlord wins and the tenant still does not leave, the next step is a warrant of restitution, which only a sheriff or constable carries out.
Clear records matter in this process: the lease, the rent ledger and proof of notice. Our guide to Southern Maryland evictions walks through each stage.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check the linked official source or talk to a Maryland attorney.
Related terms
Sources
Ask what your home could rent for. Free.
A free rental assessment from our offices in Lexington Park and Waldorf. No cost, no contract, no pressure.