Key Takeaways:

Maryland Supreme Court hears if unlicensed landlords can compel rent payments into escrow.

Case involves tenants at Riverdale Park citing poor living conditions like roaches and water damage.

Court must clarify how to calculate rent in controversy and handle moot rent-escrow appeals.

Tenant advocates argue escrow law favors tenants, particularly against unlicensed landlords.

The Maryland Supreme Court on Friday heard arguments in a case about whether unlicensed landlords can ask a judge to require tenants to pay their rent into escrow accounts.

Most of Friday’s arguments focused on technical questions — involving the calculation of the amount in controversy, which standard of review a circuit court should apply on appeal from the district court, and when a rent-escrow

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