All Forum Posts by: Brian Pendergraft

Hello @Paige Marie and welcome to BP!  It looks like you're ready to take action.  Take action and learn as you go.  Way to go!

@Ozzy Sirimsi

https://www.meetup.com/landlord-411/

1. Before renting get all licenses you're required to have.  Rental license, lead registration if applicable, make sure property is up to housing code.

2. Have a lease agreement specific to Baltimore City.  Landlords must provide tenants a copy of the lease in Baltimore City.

3. Accurately keep records of when tenants pay.  Rental history ledgers are required if you want to recover for failure to pay rent.

4. Keep property fit for human habitation.

5. The Landlord 411 Meetup is a group you can get involved in to learn more about what is required for landlords in Baltimore City.

Unfortunately, I'm not in Gaithersburg I'm in Greenbelt.  I'll ask my network for Gaithersburg real estate attorneys and follow up with you soon.

@Adeiza Jatto I'm more of a real estate attorney that happens to be a broker (I'd display attorney as my job but it's not an option).  I'd be happy to do lunch anytime.

Welcome fellow Marylander!  Check out the local real estate investor meetups.  Search "real estate" on meetup.com.  There's many to choose from and some give out great information.

May the cash flow be with you!

REIA = Real Estate Investors Association.

I think the easiest way to find groups with real estate investors is to use meetup.com and to do a search for "real estate."  You'll find plenty of groups!

Welcome @Alvaro Zumaran.  May the profits be with you!

@Philip Rowe Congratulations on passing!

I think you need to get legal counsel.  Tenants in MD are required to put landlord's on notice of issues such as mold before taking legal action, and the certified letter put you on notice.  So they could very well be planning to take legal action.

I agree with @Thomas S. that having a lawyer write a letter can help.  Many tenants do not take landlords seriously until they receive a letter from an attorney.

A letter from an attorney letting them know that landlords are not responsible for curing defects that tenants intentionally caused and that (a) you break early and pay these fees or (b) we don't let you out of your lease.

That said, I think you should make sure you have a lawyer write it.  I once told a someone how I would word a letter and he decided to write the letter himself.  It wasn't effective and he ended up calling me back later.  He didn't understand that they are much more authoritative and effective when coming from a lawyer.