(a) Except as provided in this section, or as otherwise provided by law, a landlord may not retaliate by selectively increasing rent or decreasing services or by bringing or threatening to bring an action for possession after the landlord has knowledge that: (1) The tenant has complained to a governmental agency charged with responsibility for enforcement of a building or housing code of a violation applicable to the premises materially affecting health or safety; (2) the tenant has made a complaint to or filed a suit against the landlord for a violation of any provision of this article; (3) the tenant has organized or become a member of a tenant's organization; or (4) the tenant has testified in a court proceeding against the landlord.

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(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a landlord may terminate the rental agreement pursuant to subsection (b), section six of this article unless the magistrate or circuit court finds that the reason for the termination was retaliation.