Maryland § 5-603

§ 5-603.

    (a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

        (2)    “Delinquent tenant” means a tenant of public housing who is 30 or more days delinquent in paying the tenant’s full monthly rent to a public housing authority.

        (3)    “Public housing” means a dwelling unit owned, leased, or managed by a public housing authority.

        (4)    “Public housing authority” means a public corporation created under Division II of the Housing and Community Development Article or the public corporation’s designee.

    (b)    If a recipient of temporary cash assistance is a delinquent tenant, the Administration, at the request of the public housing authority, shall:

        (1)    deduct the amount of the tenant’s rent from the tenant’s monthly assistance payments each month;

        (2)    pay the amount deducted from the tenant’s monthly assistance payments to the public housing authority or the public housing authority’s authorized agent; and

        (3)    forward the remaining amount of the monthly assistance payments to the tenant.

    (c)    (1)    If a court establishes an escrow account under § 8-211 of the Real Property Article or a parallel provision of public local law for a tenancy covered under subsection (b) of this section, the public housing authority shall notify the Administration of the court action.

        (2)    On notice under paragraph (1) of this subsection or on certification by an attorney of record representing the delinquent tenant in the court action that an order has been issued to establish an escrow account, the Administration shall pay rent to the court as long as the order is in effect.

        (3)    Any notice under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection shall include a list of all addresses covered by the court action.

        (4)    The public housing authority shall notify the Administration when the court action has been resolved.