Baltimore Passes Law to Hold Landlords Accountable for Unsafe Rental Conditions

City leaders discuss enforcement of new Strengthening Renter Safety Act

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Baltimore City Council has passed a new law, the Strengthening Renter Safety Act, that is designed to ensure safe living conditions in rental properties. The law went into effect on January 1 and gives the city more power to hold landlords accountable for code violations and unresolved tenant complaints. City leaders held a hearing to discuss the best ways to implement the new law, which could lead to more frequent inspections and the revocation of rental licenses for landlords who do not properly maintain their properties.

Why it matters

The new law is a response to ongoing issues with unsafe and unsanitary living conditions in some Baltimore rental properties, as evidenced by problems like infestations, collapsed ceilings, broken elevators, and unresponsive management at the Hanover Square Apartments. The law aims to protect vulnerable residents and prevent landlords from taking advantage of tenants for personal profit.

The details

The Strengthening Renter Safety Act gives Baltimore's Housing and Community Development department more authority to target and hold landlords accountable. The city has already placed 36 buildings on a property dwelling list due to longstanding code violations, multiple unresolved issues, and excessive 311 calls. Hanover Square Apartments is one of the buildings on this list, with tenants reporting problems like bed bugs, roaches, rodents, and lack of building maintenance. The management company, Fairstead, has been largely unresponsive to citations and complaints, but says it will continue working with the city to address remaining issues.

  • The Strengthening Renter Safety Act went into effect on January 1, 2026.
  • City leaders held a hearing on the new law on February 6, 2026.

The players

Zeke Cohen

Baltimore City Council President.

Odette Ramos

Baltimore City Councilwoman, District 14.

Zac Blanchard

Baltimore City Councilman, District 11.

Fairstead

The management company for Hanover Square Apartments.

Rasheeda Shavers

A tenant at Hanover Square Apartments who has experienced issues like a partially collapsed ceiling.

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What’s next

The judge overseeing the case against Hanover Square Apartments' management company will decide on February 15, 2026 whether to allow the company to regain its rental license.

The takeaway

The Strengthening Renter Safety Act represents an important step in Baltimore's efforts to protect vulnerable residents from unsafe and unsanitary living conditions caused by negligent landlords. The law gives the city more tools to hold landlords accountable, but effective enforcement will be crucial to ensure real change for tenants living in substandard properties.