The Global Background Check Blog

Effective October 1, 2026, Maryland fair housing law expressly prohibits housing practices with a discriminatory effect—even when there was no intent to discriminate. The change matters for Maryland tenant screening compliance because it can affect how landlords and property managers use criminal-history, eviction, credit, income, and score-based rental criteria. This is a separate law from the Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act: Tenant Screening Rules for 2026, which addresse