Tips for a new landlord in Baltimore City MD

[Sekelle O.]

Any tips for someone who is new to being a landlord in Baltimore City? Regulations, rules to be aware of, how to deal with the City, should I pay utilities or should the tenant, that kind of thing. Stuff that you either learn real quick if you didn't know or that you could only learn after owning rentals there for years. Thanks in advance.

[Ned Carey]

Who pays utilities is negotiable. Generally the tenant pays.

Go to the Baltimore Neighborhoods inc (BNI) website and learn all you can. I suggest buying the landlord tenant guide they sell.

In Baltimore city all non owner occupied properties need to be registered with the city. You do this at 417 E Fayette st.

In Maryland all rentals built before 1978 (Unless certifies as lead free) have to be registered with the MDE.  This is different than the Baltimore city registration.  Also all rentals have to have a lead certificate. More information is available at the Md Dept of the Environment website. I believe lead info is under the "Land" link on the left.