After the first or 2nd year my lease reverted to MTM. Tenant has been there for 15+ years, is slow paying rent but little trouble otherwise. Around a year ago, the house next door changed owners. According to my tenant, the neighbor has often called the local police on them for petty stuff, mostly street parking issues. A couple of months ago a PG county police corporal [who seemed to me to have sided with and perhaps is friendly with the neighbor] contacted me about this and about throwing the tenant out. I didn't have the $ for a team of workers to vacate the whole house of their cluttered contents in the 2 hours allotted by the sheriff. The corporal said he was going to look into rental licenses. I wish I had taken his statement more seriously. I do wonder if the corporal had a hand in somehow instigating the above citation. I am requesting a hearing (virtual as currently in-person is suspended, even for mail-in payments, etc.) with the county and wondering if I should consult with an attorney or even bring one to the virtual hearing. I am a part-time landlord [still work a day-job] and not sure where to locate a lawyer with such expertise. --96.255.xx.xxx

Tenant should pay these fines in next rent cycle, that stuff is not yours. I would appeal the license penalty if you can get up to date right now. If you are collecting rent more than 24 hrs you are a full-time landlord, gotta step up and enforce the tenant pay his problems are not your problems. --76.190.xxx.xxx

How do you know they didn't post the property and the tenant removed the notice? Where I have my B rental the municipality requires a rental certificate. For several years they sent out reminders, but a couple of years (before covid) they stopped and didn't even say anything. Anyone can check an address on their database, so I'm sure al the schemers look for unapproved rentals. Now their website says they don't provide notice to renew the certificate. The kicker is that you can't evict a tenant if you don't have the certificate. It would suck to find that out when you need to take action. --67.240.xx.xx

I now have to take actions into my own hands and then defend my actions in court. Why? Because a landlord is less than a second class citizen. The State tax board wanted to know why my taxes are less than the years before. I explained with less rent being paid by tenants, my am loosing money and reduced taxes by $530K last year. They want me to prove it. I told them I'm prepared to sick all of my records up their rear... --47.147.xxx.xxx

--174.130.xxx.xxx

I would absolutely challenge the short-term rental fine in court. Bring in the original lease dated 15 years ago, your rental ledger and/or bank statements showing payments over the course of 15 years. He had to live there over a year to get that MTM status, so it's very clearly not a short-term rental! --104.230.xxx.xxx

Mike SWMO [MO], Robin [WI] for their replies. Lots of great tips & comments. I've initiated contact with the their Administrative Hearing Unit for a hearing date & so far they seem accommodating. Now to do my homework. --128.154.xxx.xxx

An attorney will be able to make much if not all the fines disappear and help guide you - especially with you being a self proclaimed part timer. --24.101.xxx.xxx

Move to St. Mary's County!! --24.245.xx.xxx