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Bill would exempt property managers from state debt‑collector licensing for routine rent collection; consumer groups oppose
Summary
SB 589 seeks to clarify that property managers whose primary business is property management are not 'debt collectors' under the Maryland Collection Agency Licensing Act when collecting rent incidental to management; landlord‑industry witnesses supported the change, while OFR, the Attorney General's consumer unit and tenant advocates warned it would remove an important statewide oversight tool and harm renters.
Senator Ben Kramer told the Finance Committee SB 589 would codify a distinction he said was affirmed by a recent circuit court decision (Smith v. Buzzuto Management) and would prevent property managers from being treated as debt collectors when the rent collection is incidental to property management. Kramer said the bill preserves tenant protections under the Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act and the Consumer Protection Act while preventing what he called regulatory overreach.
Prop…
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