Rent Court Watch Blog
Too often, it seems the courts are stacked against tenants. They struggle to access representation, they don’t know their rights, and judges seem to err on the side of the landlord when in doubt. BRU sends volunteers and tenant advocates into the courts to see how tenants fare when those in charge think nobody is looking. These stories are just a few examples of why we think Right To Counsel is so important in Baltimore and everywhere: A tenant who doesn’t know their rights and can’t enforce them effectively has no rights.
As of October 2022, BRU has been collecting data about Baltimore City failure-to-pay-rent proceedings. You can can view the stats and some of the trends we have been noticing over on our Data Dashboard.
If you’d like to help with BRU Rent Court Watch, you can sign up on our Volunteer page!
Defenses Lost In Translation
A translator is a weak attempt at increasing accessibility for tenants who don’t have the information to advocate for themselves in court.
Paying For A Move-Out Date
A rent escrow case highlights how the escrow system often ends up harming tenants instead of helping them to advocate for their rights.
Pictures, Tears, Race, & Class
A first-time rent court watcher recognizes the brutality of Baltimore City’s evictions court.