What Tenants Should Know About Rent Court Evictions

1. If you receive a summons to a Failure to Pay Rent hearing (AKA "the yellow sheet"), make sure that you read and understand the landlord's claims.    If you think any of the landlord's claims are not true, you MUST appear at the court hearing to tell the judge your disputes.
   
   
2. Read the back of the yellow summons for detailed information on what to expect in court and what to expect if the judge rules for the landlord.
   
   
3. If you pay the rent before court, get a receipt and bring that receipt to the court hearing.    THE LANDLORD MAY TELL YOU THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO GO TO COURT, BUT THAT IS NOT TRUE. GOING TO COURT IS THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT AN EVICTION.
   
   
4. If line #6 of the court summons was filled out, then the landlord has requested to foreclosure your right to redemption. "Foreclosure of the right to redemption" means that, if the landlord wins in court, the tenant will no longer be able to stop the eviction by paying the rent. In this situation, it is CRUCIAL to pay the full amount due BEFORE COURT and APPEAR IN COURT with your receipts because avoiding a judgment is the only way to stop this type of eviction.
   
   
5. If the landlord wins a judgment, you still have an opportunity to stop the eviction (unless the judgment was without the right of redemption, as explained above). The sheriff will not conduct an eviction if the full amount of the court judgment plus filing fees is paid before the eviction begins. Be sure to get receipts in case you need proof of payment in the future.

Other important information on evictions:

Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc., 2217 Saint Paul St., Baltimore, MD 21218
Administration:410-243-4468     Fair Housing: 410-243-4400
Tenant/Landlord Hotline: 410-243-6007 (Baltimore region) or 1-800-487-6007 (Maryland only)