Pursuant to a written lease, a landlord may charge a complaint filing fee not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) or five percent (5%) of the monthly rent, whichever is greater, only if:

• The tenant was in default of the lease

• The landlord filed and served a complaint for summary ejectment

• The tenant cured the default or claim

• The landlord dismissed the complaint prior to judgment.

Pursuant to a written lease, a landlord may charge a court appearance fee in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the monthly rent only if:

• The tenant was in default of the lease

• The landlord filed, served, and prosecuted successfully a complaint for summary ejectment in the small claims court

• AND neither party appealed the judgment of the magistrate

Pursuant to a written lease, a landlord may charge a second trial fee for a new trial following an appeal from the judgment of a magistrate. To qualify for the fee, the landlord must:

• Prove that the tenant was in default of the lease and the landlord prevailed. The landlord’s fee may not exceed twelve percent (12%) of the monthly rent in the lease.

• A landlord who claims fees under subsections (e) through (g) of this section is entitled to charge and retain only one of the above fees for the landlord’s complaint for summary ejectment and/or money owed.

• A landlord who earns a fee under subsections (e) through (g) of this section may not deduct payment of that fee from a tenant’s subsequent rent payment or declare a failure to pay the fee as a default of the lease for a subsequent summary ejectment action.

• It is contrary to public policy for a landlord to put in a lease or claim any fee for filing a complaint for summary ejectment and/or money owed other than the ones expressly authorized by subsections (e) through (g) of this section, and reasonable attorney’s fee as allowed by law.

• Any provision of a residential rental agreement contrary to the provisions of this section is against the public policy of this State and therefore void and unenforceable.

• If the rent is subsidized by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, by the United States Department of Agriculture, by a State agency, by a public housing authority, or by a local government, any fee charged pursuant to this section shall be calculated on the tenant’s share of the contract rent only, and the rent subsidy shall not be included.