Baltimore tenants and advocates press council to pass expanded rental licensing and receivership authority

The Housing and Economic Development Committee heard hours of public testimony on Council Bill 25-0141 on Feb. 26, as Councilwoman Odette Ramos outlined a package of reforms intended to tighten Baltimore City’s rental licensing program and give the city stronger tools to address unsafe housing.

Ramos said the bill would expand licensing to all rental units, create a rental-property receivership option for the most egregious owners, require audits of up to 100–200 licensed units, require additional ownership disclosure on the licensing portal, condition licenses on payment of outstanding water bills in some cases, prohibit landlords from threatening to report tenants to immigration authorities and require training for property managers of buildings with 20 or more units. "If you threaten to call ICE on our residents, we will revoke your license," Ramos said.

Why it matters: More than half of Baltimore’s housing stock is rented, testimony and sponsor remarks said, and advocates argued current licensing practices have left many unsafe units on the market. Supporters said stronger enforcement and transparency would give tenants a path to repair and protection from retaliation. Opponents and city agencies warned the city must design workable administrative systems and consider fiscal costs.

Tenant testimony and coalition support. Dozens of tenants and tenant advocates described long delays in repairs, rodent and mold infestations, alleged landlord intimidation and instances where properties…