A.
Only the property owner shall be responsible for compliance with
the provisions of this code, and shall be cited for violations of
it, except as provided for within these regulations. A person shall
not rent or lease to another person for occupancy or use any housing
unit unless the structure and premises comply with the provisions
of this code.
B.
A property owner may not be cited for a violation of this code that
is caused by the negligent, wrongful or malicious acts or omissions
of a tenant, provided that the property owner's acts or omissions
have not contributed in any way to cause the violation.
C.
The tenant shall be responsible for keeping that part of the structure
or premises which the tenant occupies and controls or uses in a clean
and sanitary condition.
D.
Each property owner of a structure containing two or more housing
units shall maintain, in a clean and sanitary condition, the common
areas of the structure and premises.
E.
The tenant shall be responsible for the storage and disposal of rubbish
and garbage in a clean and sanitary manner as may be required by applicable
laws or ordinances.
F.
The tenant shall be responsible for keeping owner-supplied equipment
and fixtures clean and sanitary and for the exercise of reasonable
care in their use and operation.
G.
The property owner shall be responsible for maintaining the equipment
and fixtures in good and proper operating condition.
H.
The tenant shall be responsible for the maintenance of equipment
and fixtures furnished by the tenant. The equipment shall be properly
installed and shall be maintained in good working condition, kept
clean and sanitary, and free of defects, leaks or obstructions.
I.
If necessary, the property owner shall be responsible for extermination
within the structure and in the premises before the rental or lease
of the structure.
J.
The tenant of a structure containing a single-family unit shall be
responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents or other
pests in the structure or premises, unless it can be proven that the
infestation was preexisting.
K.
Each property owner or operator of a structure containing two or
more housing units shall be responsible for the extermination of any
insects, rodents or other pests in the structure or on the premises
except where infestation within the housing unit was caused by the
failure of the tenant to take reasonable action to prevent the infestation
of the housing unit.
L.
The property owner is responsible for installing and maintaining
in good working order a smoke detector(s) installed pursuant to this
code which shall be in accordance with state fire laws, Public Safety
Article, Title 9, Subtitle 1, Annotated Code of Maryland, Smoke Detection
Systems, and any codes so adopted by the County which meet or exceed
those standards.
M.
The property owner is responsible for installing and maintaining
in good working order a carbon monoxide detector(s) installed pursuant
to this code which shall be in accordance with Public Safety Article,
Title 12, Subtitle 11, Annotated Code of Maryland, and any codes so
adopted by the County which meet or exceed those standards. The tenant
shall be responsible for the maintenance of the carbon monoxide detector
during his occupancy of said unit.
N.
Discontinuance of service or utility. No property owner or tenant
shall cause any service, facility, equipment or utility which is required
to be supplied under this chapter to be removed from or shut off from
or discontinued for any occupied dwelling unit let by the owner, except
for such temporary interruptions as may be necessary while actual
repair or alterations are in process, or during temporary emergencies
when discontinuance is approved by the Code Official.
