Leaders Propose New Office To Work With Tenants, Landlords In Howard Co.

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Several community organizations came together Thursday to publicly request county leaders create the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs to protect the rights of renters in the county and provide landlords with the tools, resources and education they need to help keep people in stable, quality housing.

The Howard County Housing Alliance called on the incoming Howard County administration and County Council to create the new office that would focus on protecting renters’ rights and ensuring landlords and property managers understand and follow their obligations under the law.

The alliance outlined four key goals for the office during a news conference Thursday:

• Collecting data about complaints, violations, landlord licensing, etc., to ensure greater transparency for renters, landlords and county government.
• Holding landlords and property managers accountable so disputes with tenants are resolved promptly and responsively. This includes elevating the profiles of good and accountable landlords and property managers who provide clear data and mediate complaints promptly.
• Expanding and strengthening enforcement of renter protections through increased fines for housing code violations.
• Educating tenants and landlords about their rights to help them maintain stable housing.

“With this new office, Howard County has an incredible opportunity to deliver real solutions for renters,” said Nikki Highsmith Vernick, president and CEO of The Horizon Foundation. “Over the past two years, we have heard from thousands of community members and the data is overwhelming – renters are struggling and they need a place to go to get their issues resolved."

Highsmith Vernick said at the news conference that the proposed office would create accountability for all parties involved by recognizing landlords who "do right by their tenants and holding bad actors responsible when they don't."

Carletta Hickman, executive director of the Columbia Housing Center, said that her office works with Howard County renters daily to address housing safety issues, retaliation concerns and nonresponsive landlords. But Hickman said her office is filling a gap "that shouldn't exist in the first place."

"Howard County does not have dedicated infrastructure or systems that can support renters at scale. Providers like us are forced to absorb what a functioning system would otherwise handle — and renters pay the price in the meantime," Hickman said.

Renters account for about 30% of Howard County households. From 2020-2024, there were approximately 35,000 renter households in the county. The typical gross rent, including the cost of utilities, exceeds $2,100 per month.

Earlier this year, the Horizon Foundation and the Howard County Office of the Local Children’s Board partnered with Everyday Canvassing, a community engagement nonprofit, to speak with residents of apartment complexes across Howard County to hear directly from them about their experiences living in the community.

“We knocked on over 12,000 doors across Howard County and what we heard was consistent and urgent. Renters are dealing with mold, pest infestations, ignored maintenance requests and landlords who know there are no real consequences for their inaction," said Tino Fragale, organizing director of Everyday Canvassing.