ANNE ARUNDEL, CALVERT, CHARLES, ST. MARY’S & PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIES.
Landlord & Tenant Disputes | Haskell & Dyer
Maryland's Rental Rules Catch Both Sides Off Guard.
Lease conflicts, security deposits, repairs, and evictions. We represent landlords and tenants both, and we know how these cases play out in Maryland's courts.
The Rules Have Hard Deadlines
Miss one, and it can cost you.
Maryland sets strict rules for rentals, and both sides get caught by them. A landlord who misses the 45-day deadline to return a deposit can owe up to three times the amount. A tenant who walks away from a lease still owes the balance. Knowing the rules early is what keeps a small problem from getting expensive.
Both Sides of the Lease
We Represent Landlords and Tenants
We work both sides of these disputes, which means we know the arguments coming before they arrive.
For Landlords
Protect Your Property and Income
Unpaid rent, a tenant who broke the lease, damage beyond normal wear, or an eviction you need handled correctly. We help you recover what the lease entitles you to and follow the process Maryland requires so the result holds up.
For Tenants
Hold a Landlord to the Law
A wrongly withheld deposit, repairs ignored, or an eviction that skips the rules. Maryland gives tenants real protections, and many never use them. We hold a landlord to the lease and the law, and pursue what you are owed.
By the Numbers
Maryland's Rental Rules in Figures
These are the numbers that decide most landlord-tenant disputes before anyone sets foot in a courtroom.
45 days
a Maryland landlord's deadline to return a security deposit
Maryland law
3x
the damages a tenant may recover for a wrongly withheld deposit, in some cases
Maryland law
2 months
the cap on a Maryland security deposit
Maryland law
What We Handle
The Rental Disputes We Take
If the conflict is over a lease, a deposit, repairs, or an eviction, we can help either side.
Lease disputes
Evictions
Security deposits
Repair and habitability
Unpaid rent and lease breaks
Landlord and tenant defense
We represent landlords and tenants across Calvert, St. Mary's, Prince George's, Charles, and Anne Arundel counties.
Attorney Insight
Maryland's rules cut both ways, and most people on both sides do not know them. A landlord who misses the deadline and a tenant who walks away from a lease both pay for it. Knowing the rules early is what keeps a small problem from becoming an expensive one.
Matthew J. Dyer, Esq.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer
A Closer Look
The Security Deposit Rules That Trip Everyone Up
Security deposits cause more landlord-tenant fights than almost anything else, and Maryland's rules are specific. A landlord can generally collect no more than 2 months' rent as a deposit. After the tenancy ends, the landlord usually has 45 days to return it, along with a written statement of any deductions. Miss that, and a tenant may be able to recover up to 3 times the amount wrongly withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees.
Tenants lose out on the other side, often because they never push. A landlord who keeps a deposit without the required notice is betting the tenant will shrug and move on. Many do. The ones who know the rule, and act on it, frequently recover far more than the deposit itself. We make sure whichever side you are on understands exactly what the law requires and allows.
The same pattern runs through repairs, lease breaks, and evictions. An eviction that skips a required step can be thrown out. A tenant who abandons a lease still owes the balance, but a landlord has to handle it correctly to collect. These cases are common across our counties, and we know how the local courts handle them. The side that knows the rules first usually controls the outcome.
Why It Matters
What a Rental Dispute Puts at Risk
A lease conflict is small until it is not. Handled wrong, it costs far more than the deposit or the month's rent.
The Deposit
Up to 3x for a wrongful withholding
The Rent
Unpaid balances and lease breaks
The Property
Damage beyond normal wear
The Process
An eviction that has to be done right
How We Handle a Rental Dispute
We tell you what Maryland law actually requires, document the facts, and pursue the result the lease and the law support.
We Read the Lease and the Law
We line up your lease against Maryland's rules so you know exactly where you stand before spending a dollar.
We Document the Facts
We help build a clear record: the deposit math, the notices, the repairs, the photos, whatever the case turns on.
We Demand or Defend
We press your claim or defend against the other side, on law-firm letterhead, which moves many disputes to a quick resolution.
We Take It to Court If Needed
If the matter does not resolve, we pursue it in the local court, where we know how these cases are handled.
Common Questions
Landlord & Tenant Disputes, Answered
How long does a Maryland landlord have to return my deposit?
Generally 45 days after the tenancy ends, along with a written statement of any deductions. If a landlord misses that deadline or withholds without the required notice, a tenant may be able to recover up to 3 times the amount wrongly withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees in some cases. The exact result depends on the facts, but the deadline is strict, and it is often the whole case.
I am a landlord. Can I keep the deposit for damage?
For damage beyond normal wear and tear, often yes, but you have to follow the rules: stay within the deposit cap, return the balance within 45 days, and provide a written statement of deductions. Skip those steps and you can lose the right to keep anything and face added damages. We help you handle it correctly so your deductions hold up.
Can a tenant who broke the lease still be made to pay?
Often, yes. A signed lease is a contract, and a tenant who leaves early generally still owes the balance, though a landlord usually has to make reasonable efforts to re-rent and reduce the loss. What is recoverable depends on the lease and the facts. We pursue the rent and costs you are realistically owed.
Do you represent tenants, or only landlords?
Both. We handle landlord-tenant disputes from either side, which means we know the arguments and tactics the other side will use. Whether you are a landlord protecting your property and income or a tenant holding a landlord to the law, we can help.
Is an eviction something I can handle myself?
You can, but the process has strict steps, and a mistake can get the case dismissed and send you back to the start. Maryland's procedures are specific. Having it handled correctly the first time is usually faster and cheaper than fixing a botched filing. We make sure it is done right.
Know the Rules Before They Cost You.
Maryland's rental rules have hard deadlines, and both sides get caught by them. Bring us the lease and the facts, and we will tell you exactly where you stand and pursue the result the law supports. The first conversation is free.
Available 24/7 for urgent matters: 240-687-0179