termination by landlord?

[u_hsen]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Maryland (Prince George County)

Yesterday my apartment management called me and threatened to give me a 14 day termination notice because they caught on camera i left a piece of paper on the floor in front of the building. They want to charge me $50 for littering.

The piece of paper claimed they want to charge me $250 because I have stuff on my balcony and it's against county policy. I told them my balcony is empty and has nothing on there. their response was "oh we left this at every door of the apartment units"

They said this in a phone call "we just caught you throwing a piece of paper in front of door, oh and you're the one posting on our facebook page with negative comments." (They banned me from posting on their facebook page as well)

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MY MAIN QUESTION:

Are they legally just give me a hand written note asking me to move out within 14 days?
==============================================================

Note this is May 17, my lease ends in August 16. I was planning on moving out already.

I was reading online, it seems like in State of Maryland, they have to give 30 day termination noticed, that is AFTER they talk to a judge giving them a reason to terminate my contract. I can refuse to move out which they will have to go through an eviction notice, if the judge rules against me and decide to move forward with the eviction I can appeal it. All and all the process may take up couple months, by then my lease would've been up anyways.

 

[LdiJ]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Maryland (Prince George County)

Yesterday my apartment management called me and threatened to give me a 14 day termination notice because they caught on camera i left a piece of paper on the floor in front of the building. They want to charge me $50 for littering.

The piece of paper claimed they want to charge me $250 because I have stuff on my balcony and it's against county policy. I told them my balcony is empty and has nothing on there. their response was "oh we left this at every door of the apartment units"

They said this in a phone call "we just caught you throwing a piece of paper in front of door, oh and you're the one posting on our facebook page with negative comments." (They banned me from posting on their facebook page as well)

==============================================================
MY MAIN QUESTION:

Are they legally just give me a hand written note asking me to move out within 14 days?
==============================================================

Note this is May 17, my lease ends in August 16. I was planning on moving out already.

I was reading online, it seems like in State of Maryland, they have to give 30 day termination noticed, that is AFTER they talk to a judge giving them a reason to terminate my contract. I can refuse to move out which they will have to go through an eviction notice, if the judge rules against me and decide to move forward with the eviction I can appeal it. All and all the process may take up couple months, by then my lease would've been up anyways.

While that is true (and it could go faster than that) you might end up with an eviction on your record which would make it difficult for you to rent another apartment or house.

Did you really litter? If you did, then perhaps you should pay the $50.00 fine. However, since there was nothing on your balcony you certainly should NOT pay the 250.00 fine.

 

[adjusterjack]

Are they legally just give me a hand written note asking me to move out within 14 days?

There's two parts to that question.

Handing you a written notice is legal and proper.

However, the 14 day notice applies when it

8-402.1B. The breach of the lease involves behavior by a tenant or a person who is on the property with the tenant's consent, which demonstrates a clear and imminent danger of the tenant or person doing serious harm to themselves, other tenants, the landlord, the landlord's property or representatives, or any other person on the property and the landlord has given the tenant or person in possession 14 days' written notice that the tenant or person in possession is in violation of the lease and the landlord desires to repossess the leased premises

A 30 day written notice is required for other breaches.

I was reading online, it seems like in State of Maryland, they have to give 30 day termination noticed, that is AFTER they talk to a judge giving them a reason to terminate my contract. I can refuse to move out which they will have to go through an eviction notice, if the judge rules against me and decide to move forward with the eviction I can appeal it. All and all the process may take up couple months, by then my lease would've been up anyways.

Read the statute and you'll find that you have that backward:

http://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/2015/article-grp/title-8/subtitle-4/section-8-402.1/

The landlord may go to court IF you have breached the lease and IF you were given proper notice and IF you failed to comply with the notice.

I suspect that an eviction based on a 14 day notice regarding littering will fail in court.

If you want to stall until you leave I suggest you send him a copy of the statute or, you can just ignore the notice and see how it goes.

Word to the wise: Make sure you read your lease and comply with any notice requirements that you have to make for not renewing.

 

[FarmerJ]

Make sure when you do send your notice in about you moving out do it via certified mail and make sure that you have the notice done by the timelines your lease says you have to give notice to move out.