Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Maryland

Can I be charged rent without a lease?

I have been living in my place for almost a year and the landlord cancelled numerous times to come over and have us sign leases. I have not paid rent there since I have lived there for 9 months. Can he legally make me pay rent there if he never made us sign leases and doesn't even know that I am living there? or even if he does, he doesn't know when I moved in? If I moved out without ever paying rent, could he legally charge me for that rent if he found out my name?


Asked on 4/08/02, 11:55 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Sher Wagshal and Sher

Re: Can I be charged rent without a lease?

If the landlord can establish who and how long you've been living in his property, he's entitled to rent. If there's no agreement as to the amount of rent, a court would have to decide what a fair rent is for the premises, based on comparable rents in the area. If he has a lease signed by others and then you just moved in as a roommate, he can sue the signatory on the lease even if that person is no longer living there--if he can find him/her.

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Answered on 4/09/02, 11:02 am


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