1. (a) This chapter shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies.

2. (b) The underlying purposes and policies of this chapter are:

   1. (1) To simplify, clarify, modernize, and revise the law governing the rental of dwelling units and the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants of dwelling units;
   2. (2) To encourage landlords and tenants to maintain and improve the quality of housing in this State; and
   3. (3) To revise the law of residential landlord and tenant by changing the relationship from one based on the law of conveyance to a relationship that is primarily contractual in nature.

[L 1972, c 132, pt of §1]