Maryland Rent Reporting Law 2026: The New Lease Offer Landlords Must Make
- Does Maryland's rent-reporting law apply to small landlords? No — only landlords owning six or more residential rental units in Maryland. A five-unit portfolio (e.g., a duplex plus a triplex) is outside the law.
- When do I have to make the offer to current tenants? By January 1, 2027, for leases signed before October 1, 2026. New leases signed on or after October 1, 2026 must include the offer at signing. In both cases, repeat the offer at least once a year.
- How much can I charge the tenant for reporting? The lesser of your actual cost or $10 per month. If the service costs you $4/unit/month, the cap is $4.
Maryland landlords woke up to a new compliance item today. Chapter 773 (SB 335 / HB 315, approved May 26, 2026) took effect October 1, 2026, and it requires qualifying landlords to offer every tenant the option to have their positive rental payment history reported to at least one consumer reporting agency. The offer has to live in the written lease, it follows a state-prescribed form, and you can charge a fee for it — capped at the lesser of your actual cost or $10 per month.
The short version: If you own six or more residential rental units in Maryland, you must give each tenant the option to opt in to rent reporting on a form prescribed by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). New leases signed on or after October 1, 2026 get the offer at signing and at least once a year after that. Existing leases must receive the offer by January 1, 2027, then annually. Only complete-and-timely payments can be reported — late or short months don't travel, and neither does the reporting fee itself.
Who's covered — and who isn't
The threshold is explicit in the statute: a landlord that owns six or more residential rental units in Maryland. Count your units across the state, not per building. A duplex plus a triplex equals five units — no obligation. Add one more unit and you're in.
The law targets landlords, not property managers acting as agents, and it applies regardless of whether you self-manage or use a management company. If you're close to the line, count conservatively.
What the offer must contain
The offer can't be a casual "want me to report your rent?" It must be made on DHCD's prescribed form, which requires:
- A statement that the offer is optional — the tenant is never required to accept;
- The name of each consumer reporting agency the rent history will be reported to (minimum: one);
- The fee amount you're charging for the service;
- Instructions for opting in at any time and opting out (opt-out by written request, at any time);
- A signature block for the tenant's acceptance or declination.
Using your own one-liner instead of the state form won't satisfy the requirement. Get the current DHCD form before you add anything to your leases.
Deadlines: new leases vs. existing leases
| Lease situation | What to do | By when |
|---|---|---|
| Lease signed on or after October 1, 2026 | Include the reporting offer in the lease | At signing |
| Those same new leases, ongoing | Repeat the offer | At least once per year |
| Lease signed before October 1, 2026 | Deliver the offer to current tenants | By January 1, 2027 |
| Those existing leases, ongoing | Repeat the offer | At least once per year |
The second offer round — the January 1, 2027 deadline for existing tenants — is a built-in second compliance deadline. Mark it now.
Delivery of the offer must be documented: the accepted routes are first-class mail with a certificate of mailing, a tracked delivery service, or electronic delivery if the tenant has elected to receive communications that way. Keep proof of delivery; "I mentioned it at renewal" won't survive a dispute.
The fee math
You may charge the tenant for the reporting service, but the cap is the lesser of your actual cost or $10 per month — $120 per year at the absolute ceiling. Key points:
- Document your actual cost. If the reporting service costs you $4 per unit per month, $4 is your ceiling, not $10. The law says the lesser of the two.
- The fee is not rent. Don't fold it into the rent line or treat nonpayment as rent arrears. It should appear as a separate, clearly labeled charge.
- If the tenant doesn't pay the fee for 30 days or more, you may stop reporting — and the tenant can't sign back up for at least six months.
Pick your reporting provider before you set the fee; compare your options in our guide to rent reporting services for landlords.
What counts as reportable — and what doesn't
Only positive rental payment history goes to the bureau: rent paid completely and on time. The statute excludes:
- Any month the tenant paid late or short — those months simply don't get reported (the law does not authorize reporting negative history through this channel);
- The payment or nonpayment of the reporting fee itself — the fee can never appear on the credit file.
This is a one-way street by design: the program builds credit files, it never damages them. Document payments carefully — our rent collection and late fees guide covers how to keep payment records that hold up.
When reporting stops
- Tenant opts out: any time, by written request. They then wait at least six months before they can opt back in.
- Fee unpaid 30+ days: you may discontinue reporting, with the same six-month lockout before the tenant can re-enroll.
- Tenant pays the fee but moves out: the obligation follows the lease; handle move-out reporting cutoff consistently with your final accounting.
One more new Maryland law today
Chapter 773 isn't the only housing law that took effect October 1. The Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act (Chapter 752) also kicked in: landlords with five or more units may not ask about a prospective tenant's criminal history until after making a conditional offer of tenancy (owner-occupied properties are exempt). If you're updating lease paperwork and screening procedures this month, handle both laws in the same pass.
FAQ
Does Maryland's rent-reporting law apply to small landlords?
No — only landlords owning six or more residential rental units in Maryland. A five-unit portfolio (e.g., a duplex plus a triplex) is outside the law.
When do I have to make the offer to current tenants?
By January 1, 2027, for leases signed before October 1, 2026. New leases signed on or after October 1, 2026 must include the offer at signing. In both cases, repeat the offer at least once a year.
How much can I charge the tenant for reporting?
The lesser of your actual cost or $10 per month. If the service costs you $4/unit/month, the cap is $4.
Can I report late rent through this program?
No. Only complete and timely payments count as positive rental payment history. Late or short months are simply not reported, and the fee payment itself can never be reported.
Can the tenant decline?
Yes — the offer is optional by statute, and the DHCD form must say so. The tenant can also opt in later at any time, or opt out in writing at any time (with a six-month wait to re-enroll).
What happens if the tenant stops paying the reporting fee?
If the fee goes unpaid for 30 days or more, you may stop reporting, and the tenant can't sign up again for at least six months.
More Maryland landlord guides
- Maryland security deposit law 2026
- Maryland landlord-tenant law 2026
- Best rent reporting services for landlords
- Rent collection and late fees guide
Last verified: October 1, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Verify with a licensed Maryland attorney before acting.