This bill creates a program to provide legal assistance for low-income renters in landlord-tenant disputes. It requires counties to establish a "County Tenant Legal Assistance Program Fund" by diverting $300 from each residential mortgage execution sale fee (over $3.00) collected by county sheriffs. The funds must be used exclusively for legal representation in civil landlord-tenant cases, not for general county budgets. Counties may choose to establish the program, and if they do not, they must promote existing legal aid services through public awareness campaigns. The bill is pending legislative action as of its introduction date.
This bill creates a refundable tax credit for New Jersey renters who use their rental unit as their primary residence. It replaces an existing tax deduction with a direct credit equal to 30% of rent paid for residential rental property (capped at $15,000 annually), effectively reducing the renter's tax bill dollar-for-dollar. The credit applies to tenants in standard rental units (not condos, co-ops, or manufactured homes in parks), targeting those whose rent includes property taxes. This policy directly benefits low-to-moderate income renters by providing immediate tax relief instead of a future deduction.
S 452 would limit annual rent increases to 5% plus the local cost-of-living change (or 10% maximum) for most rental units in New Jersey. It affects landlords and tenants in standard residential leases, but excludes affordable housing units, new constructions (within 15 years), single-family homes owned by individuals (not corporations), and duplexes where the landlord resides. The cap applies only to future rent increases, not current rates, and tenants could challenge violations through existing tenant protection laws. The bill does not alter current rent levels or apply to exempt properties like dormitories or government-subsidized housing.
This bill (S 413) extends the protected tenancy period for qualifying senior citizens (62+ years) and disabled tenants in New Jersey when their rental buildings convert to condos or cooperatives. It changes the previous 40-year protection to a full lifetime of the tenant, preventing forced evictions due to building conversions. Tenants must have lived in the unit for at least one year before conversion and meet income or disability criteria (e.g., medically determined disability or 60% veterans' disability rating). The law applies specifically to buildings converting from rental use, ensuring these tenants can remain in their homes without rent hikes tied to the conversion.
S 3031 requires landlords in New Jersey to compensate residential tenants $12 times their monthly rent plus the cost of a moving truck/van if tenants are displaced for renovation or construction work. It applies when landlords: (1) give written notice for renovation, (2) file court action claiming renovation purposes, or (3) displace tenants for personal occupancy while promising renovation (or completing it within 6 months). Landlords must pay this compensation 5 days before move-out (for notice/eviction cases) or within 5 days of displacement (for occupancy cases), with 18% interest accruing if delayed. Unpaid amounts become a priority lien on the property after 30 days, recorded with the county clerk.
S 1050 establishes a "Security Deposit Assistance Pilot Program" in eight New Jersey counties (Passaic, Union, Essex, Hudson, Gloucester, Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, and Mercer) to help low-income renters pay security deposits. The program allows eligible households (those qualifying for "very low income housing" under state law) to pay 1/12 of their security deposit monthly for 12 months instead of a full upfront payment, with a letter of commitment replacing the deposit. If tenants violate leases, the $450,000 appropriated fund reimburses landlords for unpaid portions (up to actual damages), requiring tenants to repay the fund later. Landlords cannot refuse tenancy due to program participation, which violates anti-discrimination law. The pilot runs for at least three years with a report due after 36 months.
This bill repeals exemptions that previously allowed new residential construction to be temporarily exempt from municipal rent control or rent leveling ordinances during the initial mortgage period. It directly affects new residential developments in New Jersey municipalities with such ordinances, requiring them to comply with rent control rules from the start of occupancy. The key change removes the requirement for municipalities to exclude new construction from rent control for a set period after building completion. The bill takes effect immediately and applies to developments with development applications submitted after its effective date.
This bill revises New Jersey's definition of "landlord" to explicitly include owners and operators of rooming and boarding houses. It directly affects these housing providers by allowing municipalities to apply existing local ordinances - currently used for small rental properties (≤4 units) and mobile home owners - to enforce housing standards for rooming and boarding houses. The key mechanism expands the scope of current ordinances (under P.L.1993, c.127) to cover these properties without creating new requirements. Municipalities would need to adopt separate ordinances for rooming/boarding houses, but existing standards for smaller rentals would now apply to them.
S 403 codifies the implied warranty of habitability for residential rental properties in New Jersey, requiring all leases (written or oral) to guarantee premises are safe, healthy, and fit for living. It directly affects tenants and landlords by allowing tenants to use habitability breaches (like unaddressed code violations) as a defense against eviction for unpaid rent, provided they notified the landlord. Key mechanisms include court-ordered inspections by code enforcement officials, automatic rent reductions for defective conditions, and court-mandated repair schedules for landlords. The bill ensures tenants can withhold rent for conditions reported within 12 months prior to eviction, with remedies retroactive to the notice date and prospective until repairs are completed. (Introduced January 13, 2026; pending in Senate Committee)
This bill (S 414) expands the requirement for landlords to provide written receipts for cash rent payments. It broadens the definition of "landlord" to include anyone renting dwelling units for at least one month (except hotels, motels, or transient properties), removing previous exceptions for small owner-occupied properties. Landlords must now provide receipts detailing the payment amount, purpose, date, and names of both parties for every cash rent payment. Violations carry escalating penalties ($100 for first offense, increasing for repeat violations), and tenants can use a landlord's failure to provide receipts as a defense in eviction cases for nonpayment.
