This bill allows tenants in New Jersey to pay rent into an escrow account or perform repairs and deduct costs if a serious hazard, such as mold or a broken heating system, persists after they notify the landlord. The legislation protects tenants from eviction for failing to pay rent directly to the landlord while these issues are being addressed. Additionally, it authorizes tenants to make repairs themselves and deduct up to four months' worth of rent from future payments if the landlord does not fix the problem within a reasonable time. These measures are designed to ensure that living conditions remain safe and habitable without immediately triggering eviction proceedings.
This bill establishes statewide rent control in New Jersey, directly affecting landlords and tenants of residential rental units. It limits rent increases to a maximum of two percent in a single year or four percent over a five-year period for current tenants, while allowing a one-time increase of up to ten percent for new tenancies. The law includes specific exceptions for properties already under existing affordability programs and provides a mechanism for landlords to request waivers if they can prove an undue hardship, such as rising taxes or maintenance costs. Violations of these limits would result in penalties paid to the tenant, and the act takes effect immediately but remains inactive until the seventh month following its enactment.
This bill allows families receiving state or federal housing subsidies to more easily adjust their subsidy amounts when new members join their household, such as through the birth of a child or adoption. It also enables an expedited process to change the head-of-household designation within a family if emergency situations or financial issues like poor credit history prevent them from securing safe housing. Additionally, the legislation requires landlords to refrain from conducting credit checks on household members during these adjustments to help families maintain their rental assistance without interruption.
This bill creates the "Tenant Anti-Retaliation & Anti-Harassment Act" to protect renters from unfair treatment by landlords following complaints. It establishes a rule where if a landlord takes adverse actions, such as issuing eviction notices, illegal lockouts, utility shut-offs, or harassment, within six months of a tenant's complaint, these actions are presumed to be retaliatory unless proven otherwise. When a violation is found, the landlord faces a $5,000 civil penalty for each offense, plus the tenant can recover reasonable attorney fees and court costs through a streamlined legal process. The law applies to all rental properties in New Jersey and takes effect immediately upon passage.
This New Jersey bill requires owners of multiple dwelling buildings to notify tenants and tenant associations before selling the property. It specifically mandates notice for sales to affiliates, short sales, or deeds in lieu of foreclosure, ensuring residents are informed of these transactions. If at least 51% of the occupied units are represented by a tenant association, the group gains the right of first refusal to purchase the building. The law also defines how tenant associations can form successor entities, such as cooperatives or joint ventures, to facilitate the acquisition and maintain affordable housing standards.
This bill creates a new criminal offense for landlords who harass residential tenants with the intent to force them out of their homes. It defines harassment to include actions such as cutting off essential services, threatening violence, repeatedly entering the property, or filing frivolous eviction cases. The law also expands liability for members of limited liability companies that own rental properties, holding them personally accountable for these actions. Penalties range from disorderly persons offenses to fourth- or third-degree crimes depending on the severity and frequency of the behavior, while also allowing victims to seek civil penalties and damages. Additionally, the bill provides a mechanism for prosecutors to delay charges if the landlord agrees to fix the problematic behavior within ten days.
This New Jersey bill allows tenants facing eviction for non-payment of rent to use a federal interruption in their Social Security benefits as a legal defense. To qualify, tenants must prove that their benefits were stopped, delayed, or reduced by the federal government and that this loss directly prevented them from paying their rent. If a tenant provides this evidence, the court must pause the eviction process for up to six months or until benefits are restored, whichever comes first. Once benefits resume, the tenant must either pay all overdue rent or agree on a payment plan with the landlord, after which the eviction case should be dismissed. The law does not prevent courts from ruling that a tenant was already behind on rent before the Social Security issue occurred.
This bill establishes protections for tenants in New Jersey against the disconnection of water and wastewater services when the property owner is the utility customer. It requires utility companies to provide a 30-day written notice before shutting off service and prohibits disconnection if the tenant informs the provider they are not the customer of record or lives in a multi-unit building with a single service connection. Under these rules, any unpaid bills must be collected from the property owner rather than the tenant, and the owner cannot later seek reimbursement from the tenant for those costs. The Department of Community Affairs and the Board of Public Utilities are tasked with notifying utilities of these new requirements and creating regulations to enforce them.
This bill expands registration requirements for residential landlords in New Jersey and increases the penalties for non-compliance. It mandates that landlords of single-family rentals, duplexes, and larger apartment buildings file detailed certificates with local officials, which must include owner information, contact details for maintenance staff, emergency representatives, and proof of insurance. Additionally, the bill requires landlords to complete approved training on tenant rights and housing safety standards, with specific certification deadlines for different property types. Violations of these new rules could result in fines of up to $500 per offense and the potential revocation of the landlord's registration certificate.
This bill allows tenants in New Jersey to defend against eviction if their inability to pay rent is caused by a federal government interruption to their Social Security benefits. To use this defense, a tenant must prove that their benefits were delayed, reduced, or stopped by federal action and that this loss directly prevented them from paying rent. If the court accepts this evidence, it will pause the eviction process for up to six months or until the benefits are restored. Once the tenant's income is recovered, they must either pay all owed rent or agree on a payment plan with their landlord to have the eviction notice dismissed.
