'Just Cause' Eviction Laws Gaining Traction Around the U.S.

The political momentum behind "just cause" eviction laws appears to be building—Maryland is the latest state to consider legislation to prevent landlords statewide from evicting tenants on short notice.

Writing for Maryland Matters, Bennett Leckrone reports that Del. Jheanelle K. Wilkins (D-Montgomery) introduced House Bill 881 early in February, with strong backing from fair housing advocates, local leaders, and Democratic gubernatorial candidates.

"Wilkins’ bill includes several examples of what could constitute a 'just cause' for not renewing a lease, although local governments would have flexibility to craft their own legislation," reports Leckrone.

Leckrone provides details of how House Bill 881 defines just cause, including the following examples:

• A tenant "committing a substantial breach of lease" or causing damage to a leased property and refusing to pay for the damages or correct the breach of lease within "a reasonable period of time established under local law or ordinance."
• A tenant engaging in illegal activity on the property.
• If a landlord wants to make repairs or renovations that can’t be completed while a leased premises is occupied.

The New York State Legislature is considering its own just cause eviction law, as detailed in a humorous YouTube video published by the New York Times and shared by Planetizen in January 2022. The city of Baltimore passed a local just cause eviction law in 2021, as reported by Hallie Miller for the Baltimore Sun in July 2021, though with some doubts about the ability of the city to enforce the law "due to the significant state law governing this subject."

A recent study by Julietta Cuellar, published by the Journal of Public and International Affairs, revealed the just cause eviction laws lowered eviction rates in four California cities from 2000 and 2016.