Attorney General Gansler Reaches Settlement with
Maryland Management, Inc.
Company Agrees to Refund Security Deposits It Improperly Withheld

BALTIMORE, MD (December 16, 2008) - Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler today announced that his Consumer Protection Division has reached a settlement with Maryland Management, Inc. (“Maryland Management”), a property management company that manages apartment complexes in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Harford, Howard and Washington counties. The Division alleged that Maryland Management violated the Maryland Security Deposit Law and Application Fee Law when it collected security deposits from consumers who applied to rent apartments and if, following the acceptance of the consumers’ applications, consumers did not sign an offered lease, Maryland Management kept all or a portion of the collected security deposits.

“I am pleased that these consumers will be getting their money back,” said Attorney General Gansler. “A landlord cannot require a consumer to forfeit his or her security deposit if the consumer chooses not to rent an apartment from the landlord.”

Under the settlement, Maryland Management has agreed to follow the limits on application fees contained in the Application Fee Law and to not collect security deposits from consumers who apply to rent apartments unless the deposit is refunded to the consumers if they elect not to sign a lease. Maryland Management has also agreed to pay the Division restitution equal to the amounts it has withheld from the security deposits paid by consumers who did not sign leases and to pay the Division $5,000 for its investigation costs.

Consumers who may be entitled to restitution under the settlement will be contacted by the Division.