Bill would require advance notice, narrow entry hours for landlords; tenant advocates back measure, industry expresses operational concerns

Brooke Scoville presented HB 10 76 on behalf of Delegate Ross (Delegate Terrasa’s office), proposing statutory notice and reasonable-hours rules for landlord entry into residential rental properties. The draft would limit routine landlord entry to 9 a.m.–5 p.m. with a 48‑hour advance notice requirement, while preserving emergency entry and tenant-granted permission.

“Tenants reasonably believe that they are entitled to privacy in exchange for their obligations under the lease,” Scoville told the committee, noting that most jurisdictions either have a statutory rule or leases contain 24‑hour notice. Pro Bono Resource Center attorney Jennifer Mercer and other tenant advocates described frequent problems where small landlords or property managers enter units without notice, creating safety, privacy and rent-escrow complications in court. Mercer said the bill would prevent landlords from using alleged denial of access as a defense when tenants escrow rent for habitability violations.

Landlord and management representatives—the Maryland Realtors, Maryland Multi-Housing Association and Apartment and Office Building Association—said they support reasonable notice but urged operational flexibility. They noted the near‑universality of a 24‑hour notice term in leases, asked for clarity about emergency exceptions, and expressed concern that rigid time windows could impede timely repair work or contractor scheduling.

Witnesses discussed particular scenarios—elderly tenants needing welfare checks, utilities crews with multi-hour windows, immediate fire or flooding events—and committee members questioned the scope of the emergency exception. Supporters said emergency entry remains allowed and the measure is intended to reduce confrontations and clarify disputes in rent-escrow and habitability cases. No committee vote was recorded at the hearing.