The Baltimore County Council voted Monday night to close a loophole that landlords could use to rent properties to more people than the law is meant to allow.
Republican County Councilman David Marks drafted a bill to amend the definition of a “boarding-rooming house,” homes permitted to rent to three or more unrelated people. The amendment will make clear that landlords are “technically renting” to unrelated people who spend over 30 days in a property regardless of whether they’re paying rent, Marks said.
Five council members voted for the bill’s passage. Democratic County Council members Izzy Patoka and Cathy Bevins were absent from the meeting. The law will take effect Dec. 30.
It’s illegal in the county for landlords to rent to three or more adults who are not related by blood, marriage or adoption unless a permit is issued by the county’s Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections. Residents in Towson are concerned about a Loch Raven Village landlord who is renting to four college students without a permit to do so.
County Code Enforcement approached the landlord about the issue, but the landlord reportedly told the county the townhouse was exempt from the occupancy limit because no one residing there pays rent.
Read full article: Baltimore County Council passes bill to close over-renting loophole – Baltimore Sun
