This bill creates the Whole-Home Repairs Program within the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to provide financial assistance for home improvements. It targets low-income homeowners and small landlords by offering grants to owners and forgivable loans to landlords who agree to limit rent increases for at least two years. The program specifically funds repairs for accessibility, safety, energy efficiency, and weatherization, with priority given to seniors, people with disabilities, and those facing immediate health risks. A total of $25 million is appropriated from the state's General Fund to support these efforts while ensuring that construction work pays prevailing wages.
This bill requires the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to update the Truth in Renting Guide to include specific information about discriminatory housing practices related to rental subsidies. The amendment mandates that the guide explicitly state it is illegal for landlords to refuse to rent to individuals using Section 8 vouchers or other lawful rental subsidies, as well as to advertise such refusals. By adding these details, the bill aims to inform tenants and landlords that housing vouchers are considered a protected source of lawful income under the state's Law Against Discrimination. The updated guide must be available in both English and Spanish and posted on the department's website annually. This change directly affects landlords, tenants, and the general public by clarifying existing legal protections against discrimination based on income sources.
This bill establishes the "Safe Sanitary Subsidized Rental Housing Bill of Rights" to strengthen protections for tenants in publicly subsidized rental housing in New Jersey. It requires landlords receiving rental subsidies to maintain safe and sanitary conditions and creates a process where courts must notify the Department of Community Affairs when habitability issues are alleged in subsidized units. Under the bill, housing inspections must occur within 10 days of such notices, and landlords found to have significant violations may face withholding of rental subsidies until repairs are completed. The legislation also mandates that landlords of subsidized properties register for at least 90 days before a court can enter a judgment of possession, and it updates existing landlord registration requirements.
This bill amends New Jersey's anti-discrimination laws to explicitly prohibit housing discrimination based on the source of a person's lawful income used for rent or mortgage payments. It directly affects landlords, property managers, and other housing providers by adding "source of lawful income" to the list of protected characteristics alongside race, disability, and other existing categories. The legislation requires housing providers to treat applicants fairly regardless of where their income comes from, as long as it is legally earned. This change expands existing civil rights protections to ensure people cannot be denied housing solely because of how they earn their money.
This bill prohibits landlords in New Jersey from charging tenants additional fees, rent increases, or security deposits related to keeping an emotional support animal in residential rental properties. It applies to most rental situations but excludes owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units, and requires tenants to provide health provider documentation about their emotional support animal at lease signing. The law also establishes legal penalties for landlords who violate these rules, allowing tenants to seek $1,000 per violation plus attorney fees in court.
This bill allows tenants in New Jersey to pay rent into an escrow account or make repairs themselves and deduct costs from future rent when serious hazards like mold, broken heating, or unsafe stairs persist in their homes. Tenants must first notify their landlord and allow a reasonable time for repairs before using these options. The law protects tenants from eviction if they withhold rent for these specific safety issues or deduct repair costs up to four months' worth of rent.
This bill prohibits landlords, their agents, and third-party screening vendors in New Jersey from requiring photo identification as part of a residential rental application or making approval contingent on providing such ID. It directly affects prospective tenants seeking to rent apartments and the property management companies or brokers they interact with. The law classifies violations as unlawful practices under state consumer fraud statutes, allowing tenants to sue for $1,000 per offense plus attorney fees. The restrictions apply to all rental applications for units leased for at least one month, excluding owner-occupied properties with three or fewer units and transient lodging like hotels.
This bill, known as the Tenant Anti-Retaliation & Anti-Harassment Act, strengthens protections for tenants in New Jersey by establishing a legal presumption that landlords acted retaliatorily if they take adverse actions against tenants within six months of a tenant complaint. Specifically, if a landlord issues a notice to quit or makes substantial changes to tenancy terms - such as illegal lockouts, utility shut-offs, threats, or harassment - soon after a tenant files a complaint, the law presumes retaliation unless the landlord can prove otherwise. Violations of this presumption can result in a $5,000 civil penalty per incident, plus reimbursement for reasonable attorney fees and expenses, enforceable through a summary proceeding in the appropriate county court. The act applies to complaints made under existing tenant protection laws and takes effect immediately upon passage.
This bill requires New Jersey's Bureau of Housing Inspection to create a 24/7 toll-free hotline and a statewide database for public housing residents to report health, safety, and living condition issues. The hotline must offer live operators in English and Spanish, protect caller anonymity, and provide information or referrals to residents. The database will track substantiated complaints, including details on violations, corrective actions taken, and response times, with this information posted online for public review. The Commissioner of Community Affairs must adopt rules to ensure the hotline and database operate securely and are clearly advertised at public housing facilities.
This bill would limit annual rent increases for most New Jersey rental units to 5% plus the local cost-of-living change (capped at 10% total). It directly affects landlords and tenants in standard residential properties across the state, excluding new constructions (within 15 years), affordable housing units, dormitories, and certain single-family homes. Key exemptions include properties with deed restrictions for low-income housing, university dorms, and duplexes where the landlord lives in one unit. The law would require landlords to comply with this cap for all rent increases after the initial lease, with tenants able to use violations as a defense in eviction cases.
