More Information on Evictions and Lockouts Public Housing A housing authority may not terminate your tenancy (right to live there as a tenant) except for :

Resolving Complaints To report a bad landlord or other complaint, call HUD’s national hotline at 1-800-685-8470, or the State of Maryland office in Baltimore at 410-962-2520 Maryland Housing Authority Definitions

Serious or repeated violations of "material" (important) lease terms, such as:

• Failure to pay rent or some other financial obligation or
• Failure to fulfill a family obligation such as;
  • Not to sublet the unit
  • Not to keep boarders or lodgers
  • To use the unit only as a private dwelling
  • To abide by all housing authority rules and regulations
  • To maintain the unit
  • To not destroy or vandalize the unit
  • To pay for unit damage caused by the family or its guests (other than normal wear and tear)
  • Not to disturb the peaceful enjoyment of other residents
  • Not to engage in criminal activity or alcohol abuse

Other good cause:

• Criminal activity, drug abuse, or alcohol abuse. Click here for information on substance abuse.
• After you are admitted, the housing authority discovers that the family is ineligible.
• You make false statements or commit fraud in the application or recertification .

HUD Housing

The landlord may not terminate your tenancy (right to live there as a tenant) in a HUD subsidized project except for:

1. "Material" (important) noncompliance with the lease, such as:

• One or more substantial violations lease violation or
• Repeated minor lease violations that
  • adversely affect the health or safety of any person or right of any tenant to quiet enjoyment of the project
  • interfere with the management of the project
  • have an adverse financial effect on the project or
• You fail to supply all information required in the recertification process, or you knowingly provide incomplete or inaccurate information during the recertification process.
• You fail to pay rent or any other financial obligation and beyond the grace period.

2. Material failure to carry out any obligation imposed under Maryland's landlord and tenant laws. (See the Summaries of Law)
3. Criminal activity or alcohol abuse.
4. Other good cause. This includes a situation where the landlord gives you prior notice that certain conduct will will violate the lease in the future.

Section 8 Housing

A housing authority may not terminate a Section 8 voucher except for:

1. An eviction from Section 8 housing where a judge found a serious violation of the lease.
2. You fail to sign consent forms.
3. You fail to establish citizenship status or eligible immigration status.
4. You violate a family obligation, such as you fail to:

• Supply required information, or
• Fix any HQS breach caused by the family, or
• Make the unit available for Section 8 inspections, or
• Notify the housing authority and landlord when the family moves, or
• Not to commit any serious or repeated lease violation, or
• Provide the housing authority with any lease termination notices, or
• Use and occupy the unit within guidelines, or
• Notify the housing authority of any family absence from the unit, or

5. In addition, it is considered a violation if you are a family member living in the unit:

• have any interest in the unit, or
• commit fraud or other program violation, or
• engage in alcohol abuse or drug-related or violent criminal activity or activity that threatens the health, safety or right to peaceful enjoyment of other residents or persons residing in the immediate vicinity
• to accept Section 8 tenant-based assistance while receiving another housing subsidy for the same unit
  • has been evicted from HUD housing in the last five years.
  • has been terminated from the Section 8 program.
  • commits fraud, bribery or any other corrupt criminal act in connection with any federal housing program.
  • has an outstanding debt owed to any housing authority in connection with Section 8 or public housing.
  • violates a repayment agreement to a housing authority.
  • Fails to comply with the family self-sufficiency program.
  • Shows abusive conduct or threatens abusive conduct towards housing authority personnel.
  • Willfully and persistently fails to fulfill welfare-to-work requirements.
  • Commits criminal activity or alcohol abuse.

The housing authority must consider "mitigating" circumstances before terminating the Section 8 voucher, including:

• The seriousness of the case.
• The extent of participation of other family members.
• The disability of a household member.
• The effect of termination of assistance on innocent household members.

If you need assistance with your Section 8 housing concerns, you may contact the Housing Preservation Program (HPP) at the Maryland Legal Aid Bureau.  The HPP aims to preserver affordable housing for low-income people by educating tenants and negotiating with property managers.