Resources
We’ve pulled together the items below to help you organize your neighbors, fight for rent stabilization, and access resources made available by various organizations and levels of government. You’ll find fact sheets Rockville Renters United has produced as well as resources written by other renter organizations. You’ll also find links to other helpful organizations as well as links to local government resources for filing landlord complaints and accessing emergency rental assistance.
Fact Sheets by Rockville Renters United
Rockville Tenants: Know Your Rights
A quick guide to understanding your rights as a renter in Rockville. For instance, did you know that your landlord is required to give you 90 days notice of any rent increase? Or that distributing flyers about building issues is your protected right under Maryland law?
Door Knocking for Dummies: Your Cheat Sheet to Canvasing
(Coming Soon)
Knocking on doors and talking with your neighbors (or, canvasing) is the best way to build renter power, but it can be intimidating if you’ve never done it. This one page cheat sheet will give you tips and tricks to ensuring a successful canvas, all in a form you can literally keep in your back pocket.
Starting a Tenant Association
(Coming Soon)
Rockville Renters United’s guide to creating a tenant association in your building. We cover everything from planning your first steps to building a tenant association that will stand the test of time. This guide will walk you through the process step by step and share first hand examples from other tenant organizers.
Rent Stabilization: The Missing Piece of Rockville’s Housing Strategy
Want to learn more about rent stabilization and how it helps combat the cost of living crisis in Rockville? We’ve complied the research into one short, handy guide for you.
A Brief History of the Rockville Rent Stabilization Fight
A one page summary of the need for rent stabilization in Rockville and how we have gotten to this moment.
Helpful Resources by Other Groups
Maryland’s Tenants Bill of Rights
Declaración de Derechos de los Inquilinos de Maryland
This document summarizes significant rights of tenants under Maryland law.
Landlords and Tenants: Tips on Avoiding Disputes
Arrendadores y Arrendatarios: Consejos para Evitar Conflictos
This guide outlines Maryland rental housing laws and explains the rights and responsibilities of both parties. Understanding these regulations helps prevent conflicts and resolve disagreements.
Tenant Union Organizing (KC Tenants)
A resource guide and tool kit for forming tenant unions (aka, tenant associations) from our friends at KC Tenants.
How to Organize a Tenants Association
From Tenant Net. A simple and straightforward guide to organizing a tenant association that includes tips on getting started and how to form leadership.
Stable Rents, Rooted Communities
A guide to building and passing rent stabilization for local leaders from Local Progress and Power Switch Action: “As leaders in your community, you see everyday the impact of the housing crisis and the unjust housing
system on renters, their families, and our broader communities. Rent stabilization is an essential tool to protect renters during this unprecedented time of tenant
exploitation.”
Local Government Links
File a Landlord Complaint with the City of Rockville
An online form to file a complaint against your landlord with the City of Rockville. Common complaints include excessive rent increases, failure to address pest issues, unlawful evictions, and failure to return security deposits
Rockville’s Emergency Assistance Program
The City of Rockville offers emergency financial assistance through the Rockville Emergency Assistance Program (REAP) to eligible Rockville residents in need of temporary relief for evictions, utility shut-offs, prescription medications, medical and dental expenses, food, and other basic needs.
Montgomery County Services to Prevent and End Homelessness
- Are you homeless or at risk of homelessness? Do you have an eviction notice? Do you have an eviction judgment or red and white notice from the sheriff? Montgomery County has resources that can help you.
Other Organizations
Montgomery County Renters Alliance
Founded in 2010, the Montgomery County Renters Alliance, Inc. is an independent, nonprofit organization advancing renters rights and security.
CASA
CASA is a national powerhouse organization building power and improving the quality of life in working-class: Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendent, Indigenous, and Immigrant communities.
Progressive Maryland
Progressive Maryland is a multi-racial, working-class political organization that is building a movement to save our planet and put working people in control of our government and economy while ending all forms of structural oppression within our state.
Housing Initiative Partnership
- Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc. (HIP) develops innovative affordable housing, revitalizes neighborhoods, and equips people to achieve their housing and financial goals.
Jewish Social Service Agency
JSSA is the health and social wellness agency that supports our neighbors facing life’s consequential moments. Whether you’re coming to us for help in navigating end-of-life care for a loved one or searching for the right therapist to support your family, our team of experts will listen with respect.
Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless
- To provide solutions in Montgomery County to ensure that homelessness is rare, brief, and nonrecurring.
Rockville Help
- Rockville HELP is a team of volunteers on duty seven days a week to extend a listening ear, provide financial assistance, deliver emergency food, and offer clients additional referrals when needed in Rockville, Maryland.
Manna Food Center
Manna’s mission is to eliminate hunger through food distribution, education, and advocacy. Together with our tremendous volunteers, donors, and partners we are fighting hunger, feeding hope, and helping our neighbors get back on their feet.
Interfaith Works
Interfaith Works (IW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides emergency shelter, supportive housing, essential needs, and employment programs to over 35,000 residents of Montgomery County, MD, every year.