You can check to see whether or not your property has ground rent by reading your deed.
If your deed is an “assignment,” the property is a leasehold and there is a set ground rent amount and pay schedule (usually biannual). The deed should give the dates due and annual amount.
Some deeds are not so clear—we routinely come across deeds that fail to make the distinction between fee simple and leasehold properties. If you think this is the case, please contact us, and we will be happy to investigate further.
If you are certain that your property has ground rent, you can check to see if it is registered or unregistered by entering your address on the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) website:
https://sdat.dat.maryland.gov/RealProperty/Pages/default.aspx
Once you have entered your address, hit “search.” You will be taken to a data page for your property. The upper right hand corner will have a clickable link that reads, “View GroundRent Registration.”
If your ground rent is registered, you will be taken to a page that with two links:
1. A deed reference that enables you to view ground rent deed (this is not your title deed!), and
2. An “acknowledgment number,” which allows you to view the actual ground rent registration.
The registration will provide you with the ground rent owner’s name, contact information and the dates the ground rent is due. Some registrations have information regarding the ground rent amount and the date the ground rent was created.
If you are certain that you have ground rent but are unable to view a ground rent registration, chances are your ground rent is unregistered.
