[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":73},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-question-maryland-contractor-simulator-rental-property-exception":3},{"site":4,"simulation":15,"topic":23,"question":26,"siblings":48,"prev":71,"next":72},{"name":5,"tagline":6,"title":7,"description":8,"guideTitle":9,"guideDescription":10,"ogImage":11,"disclaimer":12,"practicePitch":13,"citationsTitle":14},"Free MHIC Training","Maryland home improvement exam prep","Free MHIC Exam Prep: Maryland Home Improvement Contractor Practice","Free, narrated MHIC exam prep: 147 real Maryland contractor scenarios, every choice explained, with the law cited where it applies.","MHIC Exam Study Guide","Every scenario in the free Maryland Contractor Simulator, written out as a practice question: the situation, your options, how each choice plays out, and the Maryland law where it applies.","/og/free-mhic-training.png","Free MHIC Training is free study material for the Maryland home improvement contractor exam. It is not affiliated with the Maryland Home Improvement Commission and is not legal advice.","The free Maryland Contractor Simulator puts you in situations like these across a 40-day contracting career, narrated, with your license on the line. No account needed.","Law and codes cited",{"slug":16,"title":17,"subtitle":18,"description":19,"maxTurns":20,"characterCount":21,"scenarioCount":22},"maryland-contractor-simulator","Maryland Contractor Simulator","Learn the law by living it.","You just got your MHIC license application approved and you're starting your home improvement business in Maryland. Navigate real contractor scenarios — contracts, permits, clients, subcontractors, and inspectors. Every choice teaches you the law through consequence, not memorization. Master all five exam areas to pass.",40,20,147,{"slug":24,"title":25},"who-needs-a-license","Who Needs an MHIC License",{"slug":27,"title":28,"description":29,"takeaway":30,"situation":31,"speaker":34,"speakerDescription":34,"speakerAvatar":34,"audioUrl":35,"choices":36,"citations":47},"rental-property-exception","Can a landlord renovate their own rentals without an MHIC license?","Generally yes, for work they do themselves on property they own. They still need permits and code compliance, trade licenses for electrical, plumbing, or…","Generally yes, for work they do themselves on property they own. They still need permits and code compliance, trade licenses for electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work, and anyone they hire needs an MHIC license.",[32,33],"A landlord who owns 15 rental properties asks if he can do his own renovations without an MHIC license since they're his own properties.","\"I'm not doing work for other people — these are MY houses.\"",null,"/media/voices/rental_property_exception.mp3",[37,42],{"text":38,"verdict":39,"label":40,"explanation":41},"A property owner can generally perform work on their own property without an MHIC license, but there are limitations — especially if they're hiring subcontractors or if the work requires specialized trade licenses","best","Correct","Property owners can generally perform home improvement work on their own residential property without an MHIC license. However, this exemption has limits: they still need building permits, must comply with building codes, and specialized work (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) requires appropriate trade licenses regardless of ownership. Also, if they hire someone to do the work, THAT person needs an MHIC license.",{"text":43,"verdict":44,"label":45,"explanation":46},"With 15 properties, he's basically running a business — he definitely needs an MHIC license","partial","Partially wrong","The owner exemption applies to work on one's own property regardless of how many properties they own. The MHIC license is required when performing home improvement work on someone ELSE's property for compensation. However, if the landlord is hiring contractors to do the work, those contractors need MHIC licenses.",[],[49,52,55,56,59,62,65,68],{"slug":50,"title":51,"topic":24},"what-is-home-improvement","What counts as home improvement under Maryland law?",{"slug":53,"title":54,"topic":24},"unlicensed-handyman-question","Does a handyman need an MHIC license in Maryland?",{"slug":27,"title":28,"topic":24},{"slug":57,"title":58,"topic":24},"commercial-vs-residential","Does an MHIC license cover commercial renovation work?",{"slug":60,"title":61,"topic":24},"pool-vs-home-improvement","Does an MHIC license cover building an in-ground pool?",{"slug":63,"title":64,"topic":24},"television-antenna","Is installing a TV antenna home improvement in Maryland?",{"slug":66,"title":67,"topic":24},"unlicensed-competitor","How do you explain the risk of an unlicensed contractor to a homeowner?",{"slug":69,"title":70,"topic":24},"storm-chaser-competition","Do out-of-state storm chasers need a Maryland MHIC license?",{"slug":53,"title":54,"topic":24},{"slug":57,"title":58,"topic":24},1792184484118]