Matt Losak nearly faced eviction after leaving a rent check at home while traveling, later receiving an eviction notice despite paying a late fee. Losak helped found Renters United Maryland in 2017 and prioritized enshrining good-cause eviction protections. Good-cause laws require landlords to state specific reasons for eviction, while allowing removals for lease violations or nonpayment. The absence of good-cause protections enables arbitrary evictions and gives landlords broad power. State lawmakers initially dismissed the issue and landlord lobbyists oppose such reforms. Advocates emphasize housing instability's costs to health, education, and public safety to build support.
He was working for a union, which required frequent travel. One month he accidentally left his rent check on his refrigerator and left. He called the property manager, who told him it wouldn't be a problem as long as he gave her the check when he returned and paid a $25 late fee, all of which he did. Six weeks later, he received an eviction notice for failure to pay rent.
Losak helped found Renters United Maryland in 2017, and enshrining "good cause" protection from eviction was his number-one issue. Good cause laws require landlords to have a specific reason for evicting someone or terminating their lease, although typically tenants can still be removed for things like violating lease agreements or failing to pay rent. The lack of good cause protections, is "a major loophole," he says, allowing a landlord to, "based on whim and caprice, rip somebody out of their home."
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