Maryland Rental Utility Laws: Who Pays, Rules & Renter Rights

Understanding who pays for utilities in a Maryland rental can help you plan your budget and avoid conflicts. State laws and local ordinances set some basic rules, but your lease agreement is often the key to knowing what you (the tenant) and your landlord are responsible for. Here’s how it works in Maryland.

Utilities in Maryland Rentals: Key Concepts

Utilities usually include electricity, water, gas, sewage, oil, and sometimes trash collection. Maryland law allows landlords and tenants to agree on who pays each utility. The details must be spelled out clearly in your written lease.

• Lease agreement is king: Your lease should show if you or your landlord pay for specific utilities.
• Shared meters (ratio utility billing): If the utility is shared with another unit or property, the landlord must notify you in writing of how costs are calculated, and what your estimated share will be.
• Utility shutoffs: Maryland law protects you against illegal shutoff or suspension of essential services.
• Security deposits: Landlords can’t use your deposit to cover utility bills unless the lease allows it and you actually owed those utilities.
• Keep documentation: Always save utility bills, written agreements, and any correspondence about services and charges.

How Lease Agreements Handle Utilities

The lease sets out who pays for which utilities. Make sure your lease specifies:

• Which utilities you are responsible for (electric, water, gas, trash, etc.)
• If you will pay services directly to providers, or to the landlord as part of your rent
• Any additional service or administrative fees for utility billing
• Utility billing methods for shared meters (if applicable)

Any changes must be made in writing and agreed by both renter and landlord. If it’s not clear, ask before signing your lease.

Ratio Utility Billing and Shared Meters

When a rental unit uses a shared meter—for example, with multi-unit buildings—landlords must provide written notice to tenants explaining:

• How the utility bill is split among units (the method: evenly, square footage, number of occupants, etc.)
• The estimated amount you may have to pay
• Your right to see the utility billing records

Under Maryland Code, Real Property §8-212.4, a landlord using ratio utility billing must give this information before leasing. Tenants can request in writing to review past bills if disputed. Read Maryland's Ratio Utility Billing law.

Utility Shutoffs & Landlord Responsibility

Landlords cannot purposely disconnect or threaten to disconnect your essential utilities (such as water, heat, or electricity) to force you out or demand payment. This is called an "illegal utility shutoff" and is strictly forbidden by Maryland law.

If you face a shutoff threat or utility interruption, you can reach out to your local District Court or file a complaint with the Maryland Attorney General's Office - Consumer Protection Division.

If you believe your essential services are being withheld by your landlord or are receiving unfair charges on a shared bill, notify your landlord in writing and contact the Maryland District Court for assistance.

Official Forms: What Renters May Need

• Maryland District Court: Complaint Form (DC-CV-082)
  If your landlord violates your utility rights (such as illegal shutoff), use the Complaint for Failure to Supply Essential Services (DC-CV-082) to request relief. Submit this to your local District Court.[1]
• Lead Poisoning Prevention Notice (Form: MDE 3407)
  Maryland requires landlords to supply written certification (often Form 3407) that rental homes built before 1978 are lead-safe, which covers some utility-related repairs.

For renters dealing with issues like illegal utility disconnection or unauthorized charges, always document your communications and submit the correct complaint forms directly to your local District Court. Find your Maryland District Court location.

Relevant Legal Bodies and Legislation

• Maryland District Court — Handles rental utility disputes, landlord-tenant complaints, and illegal utility shutoffs.
• Maryland Code, Real Property Title 8 — Main Maryland landlord-tenant law, including utility billing rules.

Review your lease and the official resources above to protect your legal rights as a renter and resolve any disputes about who pays for utilities in your Maryland rental home.

FAQ: Maryland Rental Utilities

1. Can my landlord make me pay for utilities if it’s not in the lease?
   No. Maryland law requires utility responsibilities to be in your written lease. If it is not specified, the landlord is responsible.
2. Is my landlord allowed to charge a fee for shared metered utilities?
   Yes, but only if it is stated in your lease, and you get written notice outlining how your share is calculated, as per Maryland law.
3. What do I do if my landlord shuts off my utilities?
   Report the situation to your local Maryland District Court and consider filing the DC-CV-082 Complaint for failure to supply essential services.
4. Are landlords required to supply trash collection in Maryland?
   Your lease should clarify who pays for trash removal. If not stated, check local laws and ask your landlord.
5. Where can I report illegal or unfair utility billing in Maryland?
   Contact the Maryland Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and/or your local District Court.

Key Takeaways for Maryland Renters

• Your written lease decides who pays which utility bills.
• If utilities are shared, landlords must notify you in writing of the calculation method and your rights.
• Landlords cannot disconnect your utilities to force you out—this is illegal.

Remember: Check every lease carefully before signing and keep good records of all utility bills and correspondence.

Need Help? Resources for Renters

• Maryland District Court Locator – Find your local court for filing complaints
• Maryland Attorney General’s Office – Tenant-Landlord Complaint Info
• Maryland Code, Real Property Title 8 – Full official landlord-tenant statutes
• Maryland Lead Certification Forms (for older rental units)

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1. Official Maryland Utility Complaint Form: DC-CV-082, Maryland Judiciary, 2024.
2. Maryland Code, Real Property §8-212.4: Ratio Utility Billing.
3. Maryland Code, Real Property Title 8: Official Maryland Landlord-Tenant Law.

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