Housing (Landlords) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1303: Prohibits landlord from considering certain actions in tenant screening; clarifies that rent receivership action does not require rent deposit and may be based on implied warranty of habitability.

This bill (A 1303) strengthens tenant protections in New Jersey by restricting how landlords screen applicants and clarifying court procedures for habitability issues. Landlords cannot consider most past housing court cases when evaluating tenants (only recent judgments for eviction under specific conditions), must provide written reasons for denials including screening details, and face fines of $1,000+ for violations. It also clarifies that tenants or officials can seek court orders to fix unsafe living conditions (like lack of heat or plumbing) without requiring upfront rent deposits, and that such cases may be based on the basic right to habitable housing. The bill directly affects residential landlords and tenants in New Jersey, particularly those involved in housing court or habitability complaints.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2618: Concerns credit inquiries for rental applications.

This bill prohibits landlords from conducting "hard credit inquiries" (which can lower a tenant's credit score) when screening applicants for affordable housing, defined as low- or moderate-income households with housing subsidies or applying to subsidized units. Landlords may only use "soft credit inquiries" (consent-based, with no score impact) for these applicants. Violations incur escalating fines: $100 for the first offense in a year, then $200 more for each subsequent offense. The bill also requires consumer reporting agencies to count multiple hard inquiries within one month for rental applications as a single inquiry to prevent score damage, and mandates the housing department to post online resources about these rules within six months.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3485: Revises tax lien foreclosure process to protect equity accrued by property owner in tax lien foreclosure.

This bill revises New Jersey's tax lien foreclosure process to require returning excess property equity to owners after liens are foreclosed. It directly affects property owners whose tax liens were foreclosed under current law, which allowed lienholders (municipalities or private entities) to keep all proceeds from property sales beyond unpaid taxes plus interest. The key provision mandates that courts must order lienholders to return any excess equity to the former owner once the lienholder is reimbursed for the taxes, interest, and costs they paid. This change responds to court rulings finding the prior practice unconstitutional under both the U.S. Fifth Amendment and New Jersey's Constitution, which prohibit uncompensated taking of property. The bill aims to align New Jersey law with the Supreme Court's Tyler v. Hennepin County decision and recent state appellate rulings.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Landlords Mortgages

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3469: Establishes "Guaranteed Rental Payment Pilot Program" for certain low-income tenants; appropriates $10,000,000.

This bill creates a pilot program to help low-income tenants with poor credit histories avoid eviction for missed rent payments. It selects 1,000 randomly chosen households from New Jersey’s State Rental Assistance Program or Section 8 voucher program (after credit counseling) to participate. If a tenant misses rent, the program pays the landlord directly but requires the tenant to repay the amount within 90 days. The program tracks default rates by credit score and reports findings to the legislature, funded by $10 million in state appropriations.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3754: Clarifies and expands landlord registration procedures; creates certain rights for tenants; makes certain changes concerning tenant notifications, inspections, and maintenance in multiple dwellings; permits percentage of affordable housing obligation to be satisfied by certain rehabilitation projects.

This bill establishes the "Landlord Registration and Tenant Protection Act" to update New Jersey's landlord registration system and strengthen tenant protections. Landlords (including owners of condos, cooperatives, and multi-unit buildings) must register with local authorities within seven days of taking ownership, providing detailed contact information like names, addresses, and phone numbers. It creates new tenant rights regarding advance notice for inspections, maintenance requests, and repairs, while also allowing landlords to meet affordable housing requirements through rehabilitation projects instead of new construction. The law directly affects landlords managing rental properties and their tenants in multiple-dwelling buildings across New Jersey.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Landlords Tenant Rights

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2299: Prohibits use and sale of algorithmic devices for setting rent price or occupancy of residential dwelling units.

This bill prohibits landlords and software sellers from using or providing algorithmic devices that set, recommend, or advise on rents or occupancy rates for residential properties in New Jersey. It directly affects landlords (including large corporate owners) and companies that develop or sell such software, banning tools that analyze non-public competitor data to influence pricing. The law defines "algorithmic device" to exclude software using public data or affordable housing program guidelines, ensuring it doesn’t restrict standard rent-setting practices. Violations carry civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation, with the Attorney General able to seek damages or injunctions.

Topics ✓ Housing ✗ Technology

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Landlords Renters

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2627: Prohibits residential landlord from imposing certain surcharges for rent payments.

This New Jersey bill (A 2627) prohibits landlords from charging tenants more than $5 per month for using digital payment methods (like credit cards or online platforms) to pay rent. It directly affects renters - especially fixed-income tenants, seniors, and low-wage earners - who often face cumulative fees of hundreds of dollars annually. Landlords must cover any fees exceeding $5 per payment or reimburse tenants within 10 days, and provide itemized receipts showing compliance. Violations trigger penalties under existing housing laws, including potential consumer fraud claims.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4326: Prohibits imposition of costs of certain realtor services on residential tenants.

This bill prohibits landlords or property managers from charging residential tenants for real estate brokerage services related to rental agreements. It directly affects renters in New Jersey who would otherwise pay fees for services like agent commissions or listing costs typically associated with securing a rental unit. The law amends existing real estate regulations to ban these charges, ensuring tenants only pay rent and standard fees outlined in their lease, not brokerage-related costs. This policy change applies to all residential rental transactions under New Jersey law.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 3641: Requires landlord to provide written explanation for rent increase on tenant of senior citizen housing project.

This bill requires landlords in senior citizen housing projects to provide tenants with a written explanation when increasing rent. The explanation must detail why the increase is fair (not "unconscionable"), confirm compliance with local rent laws, and list specific property expenses that justified the increase. It applies only to tenants living in housing projects specifically designated as "senior citizen housing" under existing law. Landlords must provide this written notice alongside any rent increase notice, enhancing transparency for senior renters.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights Tags Seniors

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2680: Increases gross income tax relief based on rent constituting property taxes for residential tenants and establishes refundable gross income tax credit in place of gross income tax deduction for residential tenants.

This New Jersey bill replaces a tax deduction for residential tenants with a refundable tax credit. It allows tenants renting their primary residence to claim a credit equal to 30% of their rent (capped at $15,000 annually) for the portion of rent treated as property taxes. The credit is refundable, meaning any amount exceeding the tenant's tax bill is paid directly to them. It directly affects renters in qualifying housing, such as apartments and mobile home rentals, who use the property as their main home.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

All housing bills