Montgomery County Councilmember Marc Elrich's statement on approval of landlord-tenant bill

Montgomery County Councilmember Marc Elrich today applauded his colleagues for unanimously approving Bill 19-15 that will improve landlord-tenant issues in a variety of ways. Councilmember Elrich was the lead sponsor of the legislation. Councilmembers Tom Hucker and Nancy Navarro were co-sponsors. NOTE: The complete text of Councilmember Elrich's statement is included.

 

 

Montgomery Councilmember Marc Elrich

applauds unanimous approval of Bill 19-15

to improve landlord-tenant issues

He was the lead sponsor of the legislation approved today;

Councilmembers Nancy Navarro, Tom Hucker were co-sponsors

 

ROCKVILLE, Md., November 29, 2016—Montgomery County Councilmember Marc Elrich today applauded his colleagues for unanimously approving Bill 19-15 that will improve landlord-tenant issues in a variety of ways. Councilmember Elrich was the lead sponsor of the legislation. Councilmembers Tom Hucker and Nancy Navarro were co-sponsors.

 

Councilmember Elrich made the following statement on today’s Council action:

 

“This bill has been a long time coming, and it is an important step toward helping tenants. Historically, tenant voices have been quiet, if not silent, for many reasons. I was particularly struck that there were no tenants on the affordable housing task force in 2008, even though tenants make up more than one-third of our County’s residents.

 

“I then worked with the County Executive, renters and then-state Senator Jamie Raskin to form a Tenant Work Group, which reviewed and discussed numerous issues regarding tenants. The work group issued a report in 2010, outlining tenant issues and making recommendations. Many of those recommendations are included in the legislation that was passed.

 

“Some of the important provisions in the bill include increased and improved inspections that will result in improved living conditions for many residents. My staff and I have visited units that were in disrepair and had not been inspected for years. In some cases, tenants feared contacting management and the County to address the situation. We also have heard about problems that go unfixed despite County citations directing the owners to make repairs. By expanding the number of units inspected and improving the process, it will relieve some of the pressure on tenants to ‘complain’ about problems in their units and the building. Additionally, tenants will have recourse—based on a clear process—to have repairs made in an efficient manner.

 

“This law will also give tenants more notice about upcoming rent increases. Too many tenants face unsustainable rent increases, and at least now, they will have 90 days’ notice of a rent increase. The bill requires that tenants be offered the choice of a one-year or two-year lease at each renewal.

 

“I had hoped that month-to-month surcharges could have been banned, but we are going to do more research to determine the magnitude of the problem and follow up. Nevertheless, this legislation is an important step forward improving tenant rights and protections.

 

“Tenants represent a large segment of our community, and for too long, they have been little noticed. Passage of this legislation is a significant step in acknowledging the need for reforms and improvements for residents in rental housing.

 

“I want to thank the many people and organizations who have been involved in this process for a long time—the County Executive and his staff, especially the director of the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Clarence Snuggs; my colleagues on the Council; Council staff; the Renters Alliance; CASA; individual tenants; Board of Education member Jill Ortman-Fouse; State Senator Jamie Raskin; and countless others.”

 

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• Elrich--statementonLandlordTenantBillApproval+11-29-16.doc