A Maryland 21 Day Notice to Vacate is an official lease termination letter written by the landlord or the tenant to end a week-to-week tenancy with no written lease. This notice is provided to either party at least twenty one (21) calendar days before the termination date set forth in the notice.
When to Use a Maryland 21 Day Notice to Vacate
A landlord or a tenant may use a Maryland 21-Day Notice to Vacate to end a week-to-week tenancy with no written lease. There is no option to continue the arrangement and the tenancy will terminate within twenty one (21) calendar days.
How to Write a Maryland 21 Day Notice to Vacate
For a lease termination notice to be legally compliant:
- State who the legal letter is addressed to (use full name of the receiving party).
- Include the termination date of the lease or tenancy.
- Fill in the full address of the rental premises.
- For tenants, provide your new address and an updated phone number.
- Sign the notice and print your name.
- For landlords, include contact information, such as address and phone number.
- Complete the certificate of service by indicating the date and method of notice delivery along with printed name and signature.
How to Serve a Maryland 21 Day Notice to Vacate
A landlord or tenant can deliver lease termination notices in Maryland using any of the below acceptable methods:
- Handing the notice to the other party in person;
- Handing the notice to a person who can accept the letter on behalf of the other party;
- Mailing the notice by first class mail with a certificate of mailing.
When sending the notice by first class mail, add three (3) calendar days to the notice period to account for variability in post office delivery times.
Sources
- 1 MD. Real Property Code Ann. § 8-402
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In the case of tenancies from week to week:
1. If the parties have a written lease, 7 days before the expiration of the tenancy; or 2. If the parties do not have a written lease, 21 days before the expiration of the tenancy. Source Link - 2 Md. Code, Real Property § 8-401
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Before a landlord may file a complaint under this section, the landlord shall provide to the tenant a written notice. By serving the notice personally; (2) The written notice required under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be in a form created by the Maryland Judiciary and notice shall occur when the notice is: Source Link(i) Sent by first-class mail, certificate of mailing; (ii) Affixed to the door of the premises; or (iii) If elected by the tenant, sent by electronic delivery in at least one of the following forms: 1. An e-mail message; 2. A text message; or 3. Through an electronic tenant portal - 3 Maryland Court Rules of Civil Procedure - Rule 1-203
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Additional Time After Service by Mail. Whenever a party has the right or is required to do some act or take some proceeding within a prescribed period after service upon the party of a notice or other paper and service is made by mail, three days shall be added to the prescribed period.
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