Maryland Will Launch New Housing Rules in October

Tenants and landlords across Maryland should prepare for changes to rental reporting, screening, and cooling standards.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Apartments

Bold vector editorial illustration of a brick residential building facade with a mounted cooling unit, representing housing regulation updates. — New Maryland housing laws taking effect October 1 will mandate air-conditioning standards, reform tenant screening procedures, and expand rental payment reporting options. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you support the implementation of stricter state regulations for local housing providers?

Maryland is set to implement three significant housing laws on October 1, 2026, targeting rental payment reporting, tenant screening processes, and air-conditioning standards. These regulations apply to various housing providers across the state.

Why it matters

The state enacted these measures to standardize property habitability and adjust how housing providers evaluate applicants and report rental payments. These shifts impact both the operational costs for landlords and the protections afforded to prospective and current tenants.

Landlords with five or more units must follow new screening rules, while buildings with 10 or more units must provide cooling at 80 degrees or lower. Tenants may choose to report rent payments to agencies for a maximum fee of $10 per month.

The players

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development

The state agency responsible for managing housing policy and providing guidance through forthcoming model forms.

The details

Under the new Fair Chance Housing Act, landlords with five or more units must issue a conditional offer before reviewing an applicant's criminal history, and they must provide a path for reassessment if an offer is withdrawn. Additionally, owners of buildings with 10 or more units must maintain air-conditioning capabilities that keep indoor temperatures at 80 degrees Fahrenheit or lower from June through September. Tenants also gain the right to opt-in to credit-building rental payment reporting.

June 1, 2025: Reference point for existing air-conditioning provision status.
January 1, 2025: Reference point for prior air-conditioning lease requirements.
June 1, 2026: Construction cutoff for new rental air-conditioning requirements.
October 1, 2026: Effective date for all three new housing laws.
January 1, 2027: Deadline to offer rental reporting to existing tenants.

Money Landscape

These regulations represent a shift in the state's oversight of the rental market and property habitability requirements. The move aligns Maryland with evolving state-level standards regarding tenant protections and modern credit-reporting practices.

Renters in buildings with 10 or more units should confirm their property's cooling capabilities before next summer to ensure they meet the 80-degree threshold. Those interested in building credit through their rent payments should prepare to review their landlord's reporting policy after the October 1 implementation date.

The takeaway

These changes impact how your rental history and payments are handled within Maryland's housing market. If you are a tenant, keep documentation regarding your rental history and review your lease after October 1, 2026, to understand your rights regarding reporting and property conditions.