Key Insights and Core Concepts

• Baltimore’s eviction process is complex and often painful for investors, requiring legal expertise or careful attention to detail to avoid costly mistakes.

• Rental license requirement is critical: Since October 2023, Baltimore requires landlords to have a rental license even for tenant holdovers (lease expired). Without this license, eviction filings can be dismissed.

• Eviction filings must be systematic and timely: Filing monthly failure-to-pay-rent cases proactively creates pressure on tenants and builds multiple judgments that accelerate eviction prospects.

• Eviction process duration averages 3–5 months, sometimes longer depending on court backlogs and tenant actions.

• Legal technicalities and court nuances can determine eviction outcomes, highlighting the importance of proper paperwork and adherence to procedural timelines.

• Cash for keys is generally discouraged unless it is formalized through a court agreement to expedite tenant move-out and bypass further filings.

• Tenant screening and lease structuring are the best ways to avoid evictions: rigorous income and credit requirements and preferring month-to-month leases offer greater flexibility to landlords.

• Investors are advised to delegate eviction filings to professionals to save time, reduce stress, and avoid costly procedural errors.

• Sheriff’s eviction day logistics vary by county: Baltimore City requires four people (including one to change locks), while other counties may require more personnel.