MD Laws Impacting Property Management and Common Interest Communities

• For nonmaterial changes to a common interest community’s governing documents, if the lender does not object within 60 days, it may be assumed that the lender granted consent.
• Governing document changes impacting the value of the underlying collateral, lien priority, and holder’s rights require express lender consent.
• Landlords are prohibited from denying a rental application solely based on the applicant’s use of federal housing vouchers (e.g. Section 8 vouchers). Landlords may still deny applications based on an applicant’s income, creditworthiness, and other nondiscriminatory qualifications.
• In Maryland, source of income is a protected class.
• Maryland defines source of income as “any lawful source of money paid directly or indirectly to or on behalf of a renter or buyer of housing.”
• Local jurisdictions must recognize all the federal protected classes (i.e., color, disability, familial status, national origin, race, religion, sex) and state protected classes (marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, and source of income). Locations may add additional protected classes.
• Individuals may record property easements and covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) in land records. While not required, this is an important consideration. Title searches often don’t examine the entire title of a property, and often easements and other property restrictions are missed.
• Failure to record an easement or other property restriction notice doesn’t impair the rights of the holder of the easement or restriction.

Source: CE Shop MD Real Estate Sales Person Continuing Education 2025