Whitney, LLP represents tenants in Towson and throughout Baltimore County after wrongful evictions. From our office on Washington Avenue, we help people pursue compensation when landlords unlawfully lock them out, remove their belongings, or proceed with evictions that should have been stopped.
If this happened to you, tell us what the landlord said and what you found when you returned home. We can review the circumstances, court records, and communications to determine whether you may have a claim.
Call 410-583-8000 or request a free case evaluation. For accepted wrongful eviction cases, there are no out-of-pocket expenses. Attorney fees and case expenses are paid from the recovery.
Results in Maryland Wrongful Eviction Cases
Our attorneys have recovered settlements for Maryland tenants, including:
- $275,000 after the wrong apartment was emptied. Our client returned from work to find her possessions gone, although her rent was paid and she had received no eviction notices.
- $225,000 after an eviction proceeded despite payment. The tenant paid the balance owed after a rent judgment, but the eviction went ahead weeks later. Belongings left outside were stolen or damaged.
- $70,000 for removing belongings from an apartment before the lease was up, but after the tenant started moving into his new apartment.
These are Maryland case results. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Watch Whitney, LLP explain its $275,000 settlement after a landlord emptied the wrong apartment.
A Towson Law Firm Serving Baltimore County Tenants
Our office is located at:
Whitney, LLP
409 Washington Avenue, Suite 750
Towson, MD 21204
We represent tenants in Towson and surrounding Baltimore County communities, including Lutherville, Timonium, Parkville, Cockeysville, and Pikesville. Consultations and case preparation can also be handled remotely, including through Zoom.
When you contact us, provide the full address of the rental property. Baltimore County and Baltimore City are separate jurisdictions, and local procedures should not be assumed to be the same.
If your rental was within Baltimore City, visit our Baltimore City wrongful eviction page for information specific to the city.
How Much Notice Does a Landlord Have to Give Before an Eviction in Baltimore County?
Baltimore County requires landlords to provide at least 14 days’ written notice before the scheduled execution of a warrant of restitution. This requirement took effect on September 28, 2026, under Bill 74-26.
The notice comes after the court has issued the warrant authorizing repossession. It is separate from an earlier notice to vacate, late-rent notice, or lease-termination notice.
What the Notice Must Include
The notice must identify the tenant, rental property, court case, warrant date, and initial scheduled eviction date. It must also include the landlord’s contact information, required warnings about repossession and personal belongings, and information about legal-help resources. If the tenant still has a right to stop a failure-to-pay-rent eviction by paying the required balance, the notice must state the amount due.
How the Notice Must Be Delivered
The landlord must:
- Send the notice by first-class mail with a certificate of mailing.
- Post it on the rental home’s front door and take a date-stamped photograph of the posted notice.
- Send it by email or text if the landlord knows or has the tenant’s email address or cellphone number on file.
If your eviction already happened, keep the notice, mailing envelope, electronic messages, and any photographs of the posting. These records can help Whitney, LLP compare the notice timeline with the date you lost possession and evaluate whether the required procedures were followed.
Penalties for Landlords Who Violate the Baltimore County Eviction Notice Law
Baltimore County Code § 35-3-103 provides a $1,000 civil penalty for violations. That penalty is separate from any compensation a tenant may recover through a civil claim. Whitney, LLP can evaluate whether the circumstances support a claim for damages and attorney’s fees.
Illegal Lockouts and Utility Shutoffs in Baltimore County
If your landlord changed the locks or cut off essential services to force you out, tell us what happened and when you lost access to your home. Save messages, photographs, utility records, and any police or county reports. Whitney, LLP can review those records to determine whether the landlord’s actions support a civil claim for compensation.
Rental Licensing May Affect an Eviction Case
A landlord’s failure to obtain a required rental license can affect the ability to pursue a failure-to-pay-rent eviction. If you believe your Baltimore County rental was unlicensed, include any licensing records or county correspondence when requesting a case evaluation.
We can review the property’s licensing history alongside the court records and eviction timeline. Whether a licensing issue supports a claim for compensation depends on the facts and available legal claims.
What Happens to Your Belongings After a Baltimore County Eviction?
Under Baltimore County Code § 35-3-103(b), belongings removed during execution of a warrant of restitution must be placed on the landlord’s property, in a location the landlord designates or, if none is designated, as near as possible to the rental home. They may not be placed on a public highway, public right-of-way, or other public property.
If your belongings were removed, document where they were placed, who handled them, and what was damaged or lost. Whitney, LLP can review those circumstances when evaluating a potential wrongful eviction or property-loss claim.
Were You Evicted Without the Required Notice?
If your eviction already happened, save the notices, envelopes, emails, and text messages you received. Whitney, LLP can review the notice timeline, court records, and circumstances of your removal to determine whether you may have a claim for compensation. Contact our Towson office for a free case evaluation.
Was Your Landlord Entitled to Remove You?
A landlord may believe you owe rent, violated the lease, or should already have moved out. Those allegations do not give the landlord unrestricted authority to take possession of your home.
Under Maryland law, a landlord generally must recover possession through a court-issued warrant of restitution executed by a sheriff or constable, unless the tenant has abandoned or surrendered the home. The law also restricts unlawful lockouts, threats to take possession unlawfully, and deliberate interruptions of essential services intended to force a tenant out.
Limited exceptions apply, including certain temporary measures to secure an unsecured property. We review the circumstances rather than assuming every lock change or disagreement supports a lawsuit.
Contact us about situations such as:
- Your locks were changed while you still lived there. Management prevented you from returning or collecting your possessions.
- A crew emptied the wrong apartment. The rental address or unit number did not match the property that was supposed to be evicted.
- You paid, but the eviction continued. A payment that should have stopped the eviction was not communicated or acted on.
- The landlord went back on an agreement. You were told the eviction was canceled or that you had more time to leave.
- Your belongings were removed before you moved out. Management claimed the property was abandoned despite your continued occupancy or communications.
- Threats or utility interruptions forced you from the home. Explain what was threatened, what occurred, and when you left.
If payment is part of your situation, read more about eviction after paying rent in Maryland.
When Management and the Removal Company Blame Each Other
After an apartment has been cleared, it may be difficult to get a straight answer. Management may blame a contractor, while the removal company says it followed the instructions it received.
You do not need to settle that disagreement before contacting an attorney.
When litigation is appropriate, we can seek records showing who authorized the work, which apartment was identified, and what information was available before the removal. Payment records, cancellation instructions, and communications between management and contractors may help establish responsibility.
Keep the names of anyone you spoke with and save their responses. If someone admitted an error or offered to replace your belongings, include that information in your timeline.
What Did the Eviction Cost You?
The first expenses may be immediate: a place to sleep, clothes for work, or replacements for items your family needs every day. Other losses may become clear later.
Depending on the facts and available claims, we may pursue compensation for:
- Missing, stolen, destroyed, or damaged belongings.
- Temporary housing, moving, and other expenses caused by the eviction.
- Other financial losses connected to the incident.
- Emotional distress.
Tell us about photographs, heirlooms, and possessions with personal significance as well. We need to understand what was lost and how it affected you.
Keep receipts for replacement purchases and other expenses. If your original receipts disappeared during the eviction, older photographs, bank records, and a written inventory can help us begin evaluating the losses.
Before accepting a payment or signing a release from your landlord, consider having an attorney review it. If you already signed something, send us a copy.
Watch Whitney, LLP’s video, “Landlord Threw Out Your Belongings? Don’t Sign Their Release.”
Our Maryland wrongful eviction lawyer page provides a broader explanation of the claims we handle and potential compensation.
About Our Wrongful Eviction Attorneys
Daniel W. Whitney, Jr. and Daniel W. Whitney, Sr. of Whitney, LLP
Whitney, LLP is a consumer protection and civil litigation firm based in Towson.
Daniel W. Whitney, Jr. built the firm’s wrongful eviction practice and has filed lawsuits against landlords across Maryland. He works alongside Daniel W. Whitney, Sr. and the firm’s attorneys to investigate unlawful removals and pursue compensation for tenants.
Questions From Towson and Baltimore County Tenants
Do I need to come to the Towson office?
Consultations and case preparation can be handled remotely, including through Zoom. Contact our staff to discuss the next steps and how to provide your records.
Can you review my situation if the landlord had a court order?
Yes. The existence of court paperwork does not answer every question about how an eviction was carried out. We can review the property identified, the timing, payment history, and any agreement to stop or postpone the eviction.
What if I have no photographs of the removal?
You can still request an evaluation. Save messages, court papers, payment records, and anything showing what happened afterward. Older photos may help identify the belongings you owned.
Where can I find help if my eviction has not happened yet?
Our wrongful eviction practice focuses on claims after an unlawful eviction. For a pending eviction or immediate housing need, Baltimore County’s community resources page provides information about housing assistance. The county also maintains a landlord-tenant resource guide. Eligibility and availability vary, and assistance is not guaranteed.
Discuss Your Eviction With Whitney, LLP’s Towson Office
Start by telling us where you rented, when you lost access to the home, and what happened to your belongings.
Our intake staff will request a timeline and supporting information. Once we receive the requested records, an attorney can generally evaluate the matter within about a week, although timing may vary. We will follow up to discuss how we may be able to help and answer your questions.
Call 410-583-8000 or contact Whitney, LLP online for a free wrongful eviction case evaluation.