[§521-2]  Purposes; rules of construction.  (a)  This chapter shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies.

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

     (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)  To encourage landlords and tenants to maintain and improve the quality of housing in this State; and

     (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]