Housing (Tenant Rights)

This bill criminalizes squatting in vacant homes by creating three new offenses: "housebreaking" (forcibly entering without permission to live there), "unlawful occupancy" (living in a vacant home without permission), and "unlawful reentry" (returning after being evicted via court order). It presumes people know they lack permission unless they have a notarized rental agreement with the owner's contact details. The law directly affects individuals occupying vacant properties without legal authorization, making these acts fourth-degree crimes punishable by up to 18 months in jail or a $10,000 fine. The bill aims to replace current eviction processes with criminal penalties for unauthorized occupancy.

This bill (A3157) modifies New Jersey's landlord-tenant law to clarify that landlords may pursue eviction after a tenant's death under specific circumstances. It adds a new exception allowing eviction if a dwelling is occupied by an immediate family member of the owner (with a developmental disability), applying existing eviction grounds like nonpayment of rent or lease violations. The change ensures landlords can proceed with eviction actions following a tenant's death when the unit is occupied by the owner's family member with a disability, under the same legal standards as other eviction cases. The bill is currently pending review by the Assembly Housing Committee after its January 2026 introduction.

This New Jersey bill (S 318) criminalizes three specific acts related to vacant dwellings: forcibly entering without permission to take residence ("housebreaking"), occupying without permission ("unlawful occupancy"), and reentering after a court-ordered eviction ("unlawful reentry"). All are classified as fourth-degree crimes punishable by up to 18 months in jail or a $10,000 fine. The law presumes occupants know they lack permission unless they have a notarized written rental agreement with the owner's current contact details. It directly affects property owners seeking to evict unauthorized occupants and occupants in vacant properties without documented authorization.

S 362 clarifies that counties and municipalities directly renting residential units to tenants are excluded from the "Fair Chance in Housing Act." This bill amends the law’s definition of "housing provider" to specifically exclude county and municipal governments that rent housing directly. As a result, these government landlords would no longer be subject to the Act’s requirements regarding criminal record inquiries during rental applications. The bill resolves ongoing disputes about whether the Act applies to public housing providers, leaving the law unchanged for private landlords and housing providers.