Eviction Over-due: Prince George's County, Maryland

[Richard Montoya]

I need some help, folks.

I have an Army colleague who owns property in George’s County, Maryland.  She is struggling to get an eviction served by the county sheriff.

Tenant – Signed a 1-year lease in November 2013.  They stopped making payments on February 2014.  A ‘complaint under oath’ was filed on June 2014, which was then followed by a hearing.  The court sided with the owner, to which they decided that an eviction was the best recourse.  As a result, the tenant was asked to leave.  The tenant verbally agreed to vacate no later than September 2014.  In hearing that the tenant was leaving on peaceful terms, the owner agreed to let her remain until September.

...

Not sure how this ties into the story, but the following month (July 2104) the tenant filed for bankruptcy. 

...

A few months later (October 2014) during a routine walk-through, the owner noticed that there was a mattress in the house.  An investigation later revealed that the former tenant had not moved out and has been squatting ever since.  When confronting the squatter, she adamantly expressed that “September did not work for her plans and decided to stay longer”.  To this day, the eviction has yet to be officially served/adjudicated by the sheriff's department.

Question:

• What are the rights of a squatter?  Does Maryland favor the tenant or the owner?
• Since the eviction was never served by the sheriff’s office, is the squatter breaking the law?
• How can the owner expedite the eviction order (June 2014)?  Is there a time limitation, whereas the sheriff MUST serve an eviction notice?
• Is the sheriff the ONLY entity that can serve the eviction notice?
• Is there anyone out in the BP community who can provide some insight on how to ‘legally’ deal with a squatter.  Maybe some “unscheduled maintenance” that happens to run a bit longer than expected?

Any help you be appreciated.

- RIchard Montoya -

REF:

http://www.peoples-law.org/special-laws-rules-prin...

http://www.peoples-law.org/failure-pay-rent