Baltimore City Landlords
New Baltimore City COVID-19 Restrictions starting January 22nd, 2021 at 5 p.m.
Gatherings
Religious Facilities
Indoor Recreational Establishments
Outdoor Recreational Establishments
Fitness Centers
Casinos
Foodservice Establishments
Personal Services
Libraries
Museums Zoos, Aquariums
Theaters and Outdoor Entertainment Venues
Baltimore City Is Not Allowing Late Fees or Rent Increases
Due to the Baltimore City Council passing Bill 20-364, landlords in Baltimore City are not allowed to charge late fees or increase rent from
March rent through 90 days after the Governor lifts the State of Emergency.
Any cases that we may have filed with late fees on them prior to today, those fees will be struck.
The same applies to rent increases. If anyone has increased their rent since the expiration of the CARES Act and filed in rent court, please let us know ASAP, so we can lower the amount. You may increase the rent amount of any property if you get a new tenant in that property; this only applies to existing tenants.
2021 Lead Rental Registration Renewals are due to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) by December 31, 2020.
Failure to pay renewal fees by the due date of December 31, 2020, will result in penalties being assessed.
If you are paying the registration fee yourself online, please send us a copy of the receipt so we can update our files.
To renew online, please go to www.mde.maryland.gov/leadregistration. You will need your 7 digit tracking number and your password to access your MDE account. If your tracking number is shorter than 7 digits, enter zeroes in the front of your tracking number. If you do not remember your password, please click the "Forgot Password" button. If you are unsuccessful resetting your password, email us at mde.leadreg@maryland.gov and in the subject line enter "Password Reset Requested."
If you have paid in person at MDE in the past, please note that in-person payments will only be accepted via a drop box outside the MDE lobby, and we are unable to provide receipts for these payments. For this reason, MDE strongly recommends that you renew online or by mail. In order to be complete, you must fill out and submit the entire renewal form with your payment. Please remember to update tenant turnover date and certificate number for each of your properties.
If you have any questions, please call the Lead Rental Registration Hotline at (410) 537-4199 or email at mde.leadreg@maryland.gov.
Court Updates
On September 1, 2020, the CDC anounced that Landlords are unable to evict Tenants for the remainder of 2020.
For more information click the Maryland Judiciary picture.
New MDE Lead Compliance Standards
Effective July 1 new standards for lead inspections will become law in Maryland, Matching EPA standards. Please refer to the below chart for the new micrograms per square foot requirements. Stricter standards, mean safer rentals and less lead exposure.
2.) Maryland Healthy Children Act and Modified Risk Reduction Changes
In 2019, Maryland passed the Maryland Healthy Children Act. The law lowered the blood lead level that defines elevated blood lead (“EBL”) from greater than or equal to 10 μg/dl, to greater than or equal to 5 μg/dl, matching the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's blood lead reference level. On July 1, 2020, the events that trigger the modified risk reduction (MRR) standard will change under this 2019 law. Please carefully read the information below.
Currently (prior to July 1, 2020), there are two notifying events that trigger the MRR standard:
These events require the owner to meet the MRR standard, satisfied by performing certain lead hazard reduction treatments and obtaining a new MRR lead inspection certificate within 30 days of receiving a Notice of Defect or Notice of EBL.
Effective July 1, 2020, a Notice of EBL will no longer trigger the MRR standard. A Notice of Defect will serve as the sole trigger for the MRR standard. To explain further:
In both cases, the rental owner will be required to meet the MRR standard within 30 days of receiving the Notice of Defect.
A “limited lead-free” inspection certificate is a certificate in which only the interior surfaces of an Affected Property are lead-free,
but the exterior painted surfaces of the Affected Property are not lead-free. In order to pass an inspection for a limited lead-free certificate, all exterior paint of the Affected Property must be
intact. A limited lead-free inspection certificate has a two-year expiration date. Every two years, owners must recertify that the Affected Property is free of chipping, peeling, or flaking paint. If
the limited lead-free inspection certificate expires and is not timely recertified by the owner, the owner must obtain a new limited lead-free inspection certificate for the Affected Property and pay
MDE another $10 lead processing fee per property/unit.
Read the Law: Md. Code Ann., Environment § 6-804 and § 6-843; Code of Maryland Regulation 26.16.02
Changes to the Baltimore City Inspection Process
The time has come... the City of Baltimore recently passed legislation that requires all residential rental properties to be inspected by a State Licensed Home Inspector.
PLEASE download the form because things have CHANGED!
Download the checklist
Owners must install 10 year sealed battery smoke detectors in each sleeping area and on every level of the home and in compliance with the year your property was
built.
Carbon Monoxide Alarms must be located outside of sleeping area and near fuel-burning heating units (if applicable).
Download the file below to see the new inspection sheet that will be used by all inspectors.
More information can be found here
Contact Information for Baltimore City regarding the new information is below:
Property
Registration and Licensing Division
417 E. Fayette Street, Room 100
410-396-3575
property_registration@baltimorecity.gov
Contact our office if you are looking for an inspector
Multi Family Properties
Any MFDs must get a third party inspector.
New Water Billing System
The Department of Public Works (DPW) will start BaltiMeter Billing, a new water and sewer billing system that will enhance DPW's infrastructure and help to ensure customers receive efficient and reliable billing services. The below information affects only City customers at this time.
Please click the links below to receive information on the new billing system.
Easy Ways to Process Your Water Bills
1) Contact DPW Billing at 410-396-5398 to have them mail a copy of your water bill to our Office. You can also submit this request online: https://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/Water-Billing-Questions
2) Pay the bill yourself. Forward a clear, official copy to Concords email (concordpropertymanager@gmail.com) so we can foward a copy to the tenant to seek reimbursement.
3) Upload an official, clear copy of the bill via your Owners’ Dropbox
SMOKE DETECTORS
Please click the following links below to receive information regarding changes to smoke detector laws for rental properties. A law requiring a smoke detector on each level of a home is now in effect in Maryland.
A minimum of one smoke alarm is installed on every level of a home. Battery operated smoke alarms remain acceptable, but the law requires that the alarms be tamper proof and powered by long-life batteries, and possess hush button features to discourage unsafe removal.
Lead Rental Property Registry
"What are my responsibilities as a rental property owner in Maryland regarding the lead poisoning program?"
Concord has provided the following documents below for you to review and complete from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE):
Lead accredited inspectors are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to answer your questions and schedule your appointment.
Call Abode today at 410-661-6962
Property Management
Concord strives to facilitate the management of properties with owners rather than dictate the process.
Who decides on the amount of monthly rent?
How much does all of this cost me?
How do I get my money from Concord?
What happens if the tenant pays the rent late?
How are repair items handled?
How do I correspond with Concord?
What is the penalty to terminate my contract with Concord?
Tenant Placement Services
For those not interested in Property Management but seek help with tenant placement, Concord offers Tenant Placement Services. Concord is able to assist with the following:
Concord is BBB Accredited!
At Concord, we strive to obtain the trust and confidence of our clients. Our client's satisfaction with the personalized attention and full range of services that we provide is our company's goal.
If you are one of our existing clients, we would be honored if you took the time to provide a testimonial to share on this web-site for others to review. Please email us to submit your testimonial. A referral from a client is the ultimate compliment for any business, and at Concord, we also work very hard to establish a close, professional relationship with the tenants of the properties we manage. If you are one of our existing tenants or you have been one of our tenants in the past, we would appreciate your time to provide other prospective rental applicants with a testimonial about our company's service and management style.
"I must say I was pleasantly surprised to receive rent last week as I was braced for the worst because of this COVID-19 mess. Thank you so much for your continued service and help with my property. It means a lot! I hope you and yours are safe and healthy!"
-Brad
A new client with Concord that we just leased their property shared: "That is fantastic, we really appreciate the effort that was put into finding a tenant."
-Chuck
"Thanks again for everything. You've been awesome and I truly mean that. This whole house rental thing was not a apart of my plan, but you made it palatable. Wish I was there to convey this in person. You run a tight ship and y'all are an excellent property management group."
- Shawn
"Thank you very much. I'm glad to see the extra renovations were worth doing. You do a great job if we've never told you that before. Thanks again."
- Jamie
"Thanks Tonya for all the help!! You've been great to help me finding the tenant in such short time frame. I will definitely refer my friends to you and concord property. Thanks."
- WiIbur
"Gosh where do I begin- Concord Property Management saved us a lot of money and "stress" by doing what they do so well. From the first day, Tonya and her staff had been more than helpful to educate us with our many questions about our new experience in using a management company. It's the best thing we ever did, was hire Concord. Our monthly statements and deposits were always on time and without errors. I feel she is fair with both parties involved, and did a great job screening our tenant. You truly did make our lives less STRESSFUL! We would be more than happy to let Concord handle all our affairs again, should the need arise again. Thank you again."
- Joe & Cheryl Wrightson
"To Whom It May Concern: Concord Property Management has been handling my home as a rental property for 4 years. During that time, I have had not one complaint or misgiving regarding their business decisions. The company is above board on all aspects. They take great pride in their work, respond promptly to any situation that needs attention, and treat both the renter and owner with highest regard and respect. I would recommend them most highly- I am very, very pleased with this company. I can't imagine having to do this on my own!"
- Kathy Farrell Mary (Kathy) Farrell, Administrative Secretary
School Improvement, Instruction, and Administration/Title 1
"Concord Properties has been managing my two units for over two years. They have always conducted themselves with the highest level of professionalism and integrity. There have been a few challenging situations that have come up during this past year in which Concord has gone above and beyond expectations to resolve. I highly recommend their services."
- Charlie Belt
"As a first time landlord I had a lot of anxiety over getting my property ready to be converted into a rental.The abundance of paperwork for registering the Rental Property, meeting MDE Lead Certification Regulations, and finding, screening good tenants to occupy the property was daunting for someone that works a full time job. I stumbled upon Concord Property Management in search for someone to help with the Lead Certification and what I actually found was a full service property manager that would coordinate all of the necessary paperwork, help get the property in shape for a lead inspection, perform the Lead Inspection and get the property good tenants. Over the last 2 years I have not had to do any maintenance or work associated with the property. The Concord team has handled everything from fixing windows, painting, fixing doors and coordination with tenants. Every month I receive the rent check, which is deposited directly into my account (talk about convenience) and a monthly Revenue/Expense statement. At the end of the year Concord also issues out 1099s for tax purposes, making my life a whole lot easier. Thank you to Tonya and the Concord team!"
- Jon Kraft/ Bowman Consulting
"My current experience using Concord as a property management company has been excellent. They are prompt in response to my needs and the needs of my renters. They also handle difficult situations in a very professional manner. As a rental property owner I would recommend them to everyone."
- Sonya Smith-Valentine
"I have been working with Concord management for about five years and they continue to impress me just as if they were beginning a new customer! They are extremely reliable and knowledgeable. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a management company."
- Dominic Cicero
"I am very impressed with the service I receive from Concord Property Management Service. Anytime there is a problem with any of my properties, Mrs. Lurz takes care of it asap. Mr. Lurz does all the maintenance on my properties at a fair price. He does an outstanding job on any work that needs to be done. I will continue to use their services and I would encourage anyone who has rental properties and doesn't want the hassle to use their services."
- Velma Ames
"Concord has been my Management Company for the past 3 years They have done an excellent job managing my properties. They have always been honest with me. I have three properties with them and they have done a great job on all of them."
- Khalil Singh
"Concord Property Management has been handling our rental townhouse in Baltimore County for over 5 years. They handle all aspects of the rental including, at our request, any routine maintenance of the property We always receive the rent on time, along with a detailed spread sheet showing any expenditures for the month. If there are any major repairs that are needed we receive a call or e-mail with the explanation. Tonya and her husband Joel are first class and extremely professional. Our only regret is that we don’t have other rental properties for them to manage. We very highly recommend Tonya and Joel to handle any property management."
- Brian & Cherie Spector Easton, MD