On November 2, 2021, Montgomery County enacted Bill 30-21E which extends the COVID-19 Renter Relief Act. The Act originally was approved in April 2020 and had been set to expire November 15, 2021. Bill 30-21E now keeps rent stabilization measures in place until at least May 15, 2022.
Under Bill 30-21E, rent increases for existing tenants are limited to not greater than the voluntary rent guidelines, currently set at 1.4%, and tenant late fees are prohibited.
Tenants are not required to attest to or demonstrate any financial need to benefit from the limitations on rent increases.
There is no means to predict if Bill 30-21E will be further extended beyond May 15, 2022. Because Montgomery County restricts a landlord’s ability to raise rents more than once per year, landlords may want to consider deferring annual rent increase until after May 15, 2022, or until the current rent stabilization requirements expire.
