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Maria rents an apartment in Rockville and vacates the unit at the end of her lease, leaving it in clean condition with no damages. Her landlord fails to return the security deposit or provide an itemized written statement of deductions within the time period required by Maryland law. What is the consequence the landlord faces under the Maryland Residential Security Deposit Act?

Correct Answer

D) The landlord is liable to the tenant for up to three times the withheld amount plus reasonable attorney's fees

Under Md. Code Ann., Real Property § 8-203(e), if a landlord wrongfully withholds a security deposit or fails to return it with an itemized statement within the required 45-day period, the landlord is liable to the tenant for up to three times the withheld amount plus reasonable attorney's fees. This treble damages provision is a strong deterrent designed to protect Maryland tenants.

Answer Options
A
The landlord is liable to the tenant for up to two times the withheld amount plus court costs
B
The landlord forfeits the right to deduct for damages but may still retain the deposit principal
C
The landlord must return the deposit with interest but faces no additional financial penalty
D
The landlord is liable to the tenant for up to three times the withheld amount plus reasonable attorney's fees

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

security_deposittreble_damageslandlord_tenantwrongful_withholdingattorney_fees

Related Concepts

Antitrust violations in real estate occur when competing brokerages or agents engage in practices that restrain trade, reduce competition, or harm consumers through collusion. These violations are governed by the Sherman Antitrust Act and can result in severe penalties.

Broker supervision is the legal obligation of a designated or managing broker to oversee and be accountable for the real estate activities of all salespersons and associate brokers operating under their license.

Commingling is the illegal act of mixing client funds with a broker's personal or business operating funds, while conversion is the unauthorized use of client funds for the broker's own benefit. Both are serious violations that can result in license revocation.

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