College Park Limits How Early Landlords May Ask Tenants to Renew Leases

College Park officials have moved to curb early lease-renewal tactics that student advocates say force rushed housing decisions. The City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance on Feb. 3 that creates a regulated window for when landlords may present offers to current tenants and sets civil penalties for violations.

The ordinance adds § 125-18 to Chapter 125 of the municipal code to establish timing and form requirements for renewal offers. Council action included an amendment by Councilmember Holly Simmons to measure the 180-day limit from the end of a tenant’s current lease rather than from the lease start, a change intended to protect renters with terms longer than 12 months. Municipal drafting also contains the clause, "A LANDLORD SHALL NOT MAKE ANY RENEWAL OFFER EARLIER THAN 180 DAYS FROM THE START OF THE CURRENT LEASE," a line that appears inconsistent with the amendment adopted by the council. City materials require written acceptance by tenants and set rules for delivery and signature timing.

The ordinance is slated to take effect 20 days after adoption under the city charter, which places the effective date at roughly Feb. 24. Violations are classed as civil infractions, with fines beginning at $500 for a first offense and a minimum of $2,500 for subsequent violations. Exemptions apply to fraternity and sorority houses, student housing cooperatives, tenants with subleases, and leases shorter than eight months.

Municipal text specifies procedural deadlines. It states, "(A) A LANDLORD MAY NOT REQUIRE A TENANT TO ACCEPT AN OFFER FOR A SUCCESSIVE LEASE PERIOD SOONER THAN 30 DAYS AFTER THE OFFER IS SENT," and "(B) A TENANT'S ACCEPTANCE OF A LANDLORD'S OFFER FOR A SUCCESSIVE LEASE PERIOD MUST BE IN WRITING VIA ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS, PERSONAL DELIVERY, OR U.S. MAIL." The code also requires that "(C) THE LANDLORD MUST PRESENT A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR THE SUCCESSIVE LEASE PERIOD TO THE TENANT FOR SIGNATURE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THE TENANT'S WRITTEN ACCEPTANCE OF THE LANDLORD'S OFFER FOR A SUCCESSIVE LEASE PERIOD." Some public accounts referenced a shorter, 15-day minimum between offer and required acceptance; the municipal code language is the controlling legal text and should be consulted for definitive deadlines.

Student leaders drove the proposal through a months-long public process that included a Nov. 12 hearing where nearly 30 students testified in favor and about 10 landlords opposed. Student liaison Nick DiSpirito said the effort sought to ease pressure on renters: "We’re just trying to ensure that the rights of tenants in the city are protected and that people don’t feel so stressed out when they’re choosing to rent in College Park." Deputy student liaison Amira Abujuma added, "Now you have a lot more time to make very important decisions when it comes to housing, because as of right now, landlords, they profit off of pressure." Local property managers signaled mixed response; Sean Wollums of College Living called it "a necessary correction" while acknowledging the impact on small landlords, and Lisa Miller of the Prince George’s County Property Owners Association said, "It does impinge on us... But it opens up a possibility for students to have more time and more options, and that can help everyone."

For renters and owners, the immediate change is practical: lease-offer timing will shift into the six-month window before lease expiration, and enforcement will hinge on how the city applies the new civil-infraction penalties. Tenants, landlords, and property managers should review the final posted ordinance at City Hall or the city clerk’s office to confirm the exact language and calendar for compliance. The change promises to alter the lease-scramble season in College Park and may shape how other university towns approach renewal practices.