Ground rent law reform proposed

Baltimore City and state lawmakers Monday announced new proposals to modernize the state?s ground rent system, which provides homeowners with protections against losing their homes over small ground rent debts.

City council and Annapolis lawmakers joined Gov. Martin O?Malley outside Vernon Onheiser?s home in Canton, a row house Onheiser almost lost before Christmas to a $24 ground rent payment he said he didn?t know about. Lawmakers presented Onheiser ? who paid nearly $18,000 in interest and attorneys fees to keep his home ? with a sign reading “Ground Sweet Ground.”