Housing (Tenant Rights) in New Jersey

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

A 350: Extends protected tenancy period for certain tenants who are senior citizens and certain tenants with disabilities.

This bill extends New Jersey's protected tenancy law to provide senior citizens (62+ years) and disabled tenants with lifelong protection from eviction when landlords convert rental buildings to condos or cooperatives. It directly affects eligible tenants who meet income requirements and have lived in the property for at least one year, preventing forced moves due to ownership changes. The key change modifies the existing law to guarantee protected tenancy "for the full lifetime" of qualifying tenants, rather than a maximum 40-year period. This ensures these tenants can remain in their homes without rent hikes or lease changes solely because of a conversion, addressing concerns about displacement during economic hardship.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights

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

A 2684: Increases, from 18 percent to 30 percent, amount of rent constituting property taxes for purposes of gross income tax deduction for certain tenants.

This bill increases the portion of rent that counts toward property tax deductions for eligible renters in New Jersey, raising it from 18% to 30% for tenants with annual gross income of $150,000 or less. It directly affects low-to-moderate-income renters who occupy residential rental properties as their primary residence. The key change modifies the definition of "rent constituting property taxes" in the tax code, allowing a larger share of rent payments to reduce taxable income. This applies to all qualifying residential rental units, including those in mobile home parks, but maintains the 18% rate for renters earning over $150,000 annually.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Income Tax Property Tax Property Taxes Renters Tenant Rights

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

A 3333: Provides reimbursement to emergency shelter following certain evictions.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs to reimburse emergency shelter operators for costs incurred when evicting individuals who refuse to leave after their authorized stay period ends. It applies directly to operators of homeless emergency shelters established under existing law, covering expenses and lost revenue during the eviction process. Shelters must submit a specific form within 30 days of an eviction warrant being served, detailing costs and supporting documentation. The state must annually fund these reimbursements through General Fund appropriations. The bill clarifies that shelters may legally pursue eviction for non-compliance with stay duration rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics State Budget Homelessness Tenant Rights

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

A 461: Allows certain senior citizens to apply for rent increase limit.

This bill, the "Senior Citizen Tenant Protection Act," allows New Jersey residents aged 55 or older who have lived continuously in the same rental unit for 10 years and earn $80,000 or less annually to apply for protected status. Once approved, landlords cannot raise their rent by more than an annual index factor tied to regional inflation (based on the Consumer Price Index), preventing rent hikes that outpace fixed incomes like Social Security. Landlords may request a waiver for financial hardship, but must prove they cannot earn a reasonable return without it, and waivers do not override local rent control laws. The law aims to protect long-term senior tenants from displacement due to unaffordable rent increases.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights Tags Seniors

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 3279: Creates Statewide right to counsel program in certain eviction proceedings, and appropriates $20,000,000.

This bill establishes a statewide program providing free legal counsel to income-eligible tenants facing eviction in New Jersey. It directly affects tenants with household incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, or those receiving specific public benefits like SNAP or housing vouchers. The program, funded by a $20 million appropriation from the General Fund, requires designated legal organizations to provide representation starting at the tenant's first court appearance in eviction cases. Courts must also provide plain-language notices about this right to tenants in covered proceedings.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Tenant Rights

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

ACR 79: Condemns federal rule proposal that would force families of mixed immigration status who reside in certain affordable housing to either separate or face eviction.

New Jersey's ACR 79 is a resolution condemning a federal HUD rule proposal (84 F.R. 20589) that would force families with mixed immigration status - where some members are ineligible for housing assistance due to immigration status - out of federally-subsidized housing. The proposed rule would require immigration status screenings for residents under 62 and mandate eviction within 18 months for families with "ineligible" members, potentially affecting over 55,000 U.S. citizen children. It would also increase costs for housing authorities by requiring full subsidies instead of prorated shares for mixed-status families, potentially reducing housing quality and availability. The resolution urges federal leaders to invest in affordable housing access for all families regardless of immigration status, rather than implementing this rule.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Tenant Rights

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

A 611: "Immigrant Tenant Protection Act."

This New Jersey bill, the "Immigrant Tenant Protection Act," prohibits landlords from threatening to disclose or disclosing tenants' immigration status to force them to leave, or using that status as a reason to evict. It directly protects residential tenants, especially immigrant and undocumented residents, by banning such discriminatory practices in housing. Key provisions include allowing tenants to sue landlords for violations (with damages up to $2,000 per incident), preventing courts from questioning immigration status in housing cases unless directly relevant to a tenant’s claim, and making it harder for landlords to use immigration status as an eviction reason. The law amends existing tenant protection laws to explicitly shield tenants from housing discrimination based on immigration status.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Tenant Rights Driver Licenses & IDs Sanctuary Policies

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 1686: Consolidates certain affordable housing and assistance applications.

This bill creates a single online application portal for New Jersey residents to pre-apply for multiple affordable housing options (rental, for-sale, temporary, and priority housing) across the state. It consolidates 10 separate housing subsidy programs - including Section 8 vouchers, rental assistance, and homeless prevention programs - into one application that can determine final eligibility. The portal will let applicants select specific municipalities or regions and replace the current system where residents must submit duplicate applications for each program. This change aims to simplify the process for low-income residents seeking housing assistance.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Homelessness Tenant Rights

All housing bills