Bill > H1677

This bill amends the existing laws to establish a rent escrow account system for tenants to withhold rent from landlords for code violations. The key provisions are: 1. Banks must create a two-party escrow account upon request of a tenant, where the tenant and landlord are the authorized signatories. The bank cannot require the landlord's signature to open the account initially, and must make payments from the account upon a standard signature guarantee from the landlord or court order. 2. Tenants can only withhold rent and deposit it into the escrow account if: (a) the local health department has certified code violations that endanger the tenant's health and safety, (b) the tenant has notified the landlord in writing and given them 15 days to fix the issues, and (c) the landlord fails to remedy the conditions in that timeframe. The tenant must also prove all the withheld rent has been deposited into the escrow account. 3. The court can order the escrowed funds to be used for repairs if the landlord is required by law to make the repairs or is facing severe financial hardship.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H1677