Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act)

HB 1073 (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act) prohibits landlords from requiring or using criminal history checks to screen prospective tenants before making a conditional lease offer. Landlords may only consider specific criminal convictions *after* extending a conditional offer and must allow tenants to provide evidence about inaccuracies or rehabilitation. The bill also bans housing ads that discriminate based on criminal records and requires the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs to publish model documents and annual data on criminal history use in leasing. It makes violations subject to penalties under Maryland’s consumer protection laws. The law directly affects residential landlords and prospective tenants in Maryland seeking housing.