Evictions Help
Are you at risk of eviction or losing your housing subsidy?
Getting help from an attorney can increase your chances of a positive outcome.
The Access to Counsel in Evictions Intake Line connects eligible tenants with free legal help to fight evictions or subsidy termination cases.
*Important:* If you have received a notice of a scheduled court hearing and you want to defend your case, you must attend the hearing. If you do not go to court, the judge may rule in favor of your landlord.
The Access to Counsel in Evictions (ACE) Program
Note: We cannot accept rental assistance applications online. For rental and other assistance, call 211.
About the ACE Program
If you are at risk of eviction or losing your housing voucher or subsidy, you may be eligible for a free lawyer. Lawyers with the ACE Program can represent you in these kinds of cases:
- Failure to Pay Rent: Landlords file this case when they believe you owe back rent.
- Breach of Lease: Landlords file this case when they believe you have violated the lease.
- Tenant Holding Over: Landlords file this case when they claim you refuse to leave the property after your lease has ended.
- Voucher or Other Subsidy Terminations: The Housing Authority or agency administering your voucher or other housing subsidy sends you a termination notice saying you have violated program rules or regulations. In some cases, one of the above eviction cases can result in a Housing Authority beginning the voucher or subsidy termination process.
A lawyer might also be able to help if your landlord is pressuring you to move, such as by illegally shutting off utilities.
How to Get Help
You can apply for ACE legal help by calling 211 and following the prompts to evictions legal help or applying online.
The ACE program is administered by the Maryland Legal Services Corporation. Visit the Maryland Access to Counsel in Evictions website for more information about the ACE program.
Eligibility Information
To qualify for a free lawyer, you must be a tenant living in Maryland and have a household income at or below 50% of Maryland’s median income. The table below outlines the income cut-offs for July 2023 – June 2024.
2023-2024 ACE Program Income Cut-offs
(50% of the Maryland Median Income)
| Household Size | Monthly Income | Yearly Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3,234 | $38,805 |
| 2 | $4,229 | $50,745 |
| 3 | $5,224 | $62,685 |
| 4 | $6,219 | $74,625 |
| 5 | $7,214 | $86,564 |
| 6 | $8,209 | $98,504 |
| 7 | $8,395 | $100,743 |
| 8 | $8,582 | $102,982 |
| 9 | $8,768 | $105,221 |
| 10 | $8,955 | $107,459 |
Tenants' Rights
A landlord cannot evict a tenant in Maryland without getting a court order and scheduling the eviction through the Sheriff’s Department or, in Baltimore County, the Constable’s Office.
Tenants have the right to defend themselves against an eviction or subsidy termination. There are many defenses that tenants can raise to try to stop an eviction, but every case is different.
How Can a Lawyer Help
A lawyer can help you understand whether any defenses apply, can help you prepare your case, and will represent you at the trial or hearing. A lawyer can also negotiate for:
- More time for you to move
- Your landlord to make needed repairs
- Other things as appropriate.
If you have received a notice of a scheduled court hearing and you want to defend your case, you must attend the hearing. If you do not go to court, the judge may rule in favor of your landlord.
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