S 403 codifies the implied warranty of habitability for residential rental properties in New Jersey, requiring all leases (written or oral) to guarantee premises are safe, healthy, and fit for living. It directly affects tenants and landlords by allowing tenants to use habitability breaches (like unaddressed code violations) as a defense against eviction for unpaid rent, provided they notified the landlord. Key mechanisms include court-ordered inspections by code enforcement officials, automatic rent reductions for defective conditions, and court-mandated repair schedules for landlords. The bill ensures tenants can withhold rent for conditions reported within 12 months prior to eviction, with remedies retroactive to the notice date and prospective until repairs are completed. (Introduced January 13, 2026; pending in Senate Committee)
This bill (S 414) expands the requirement for landlords to provide written receipts for cash rent payments. It broadens the definition of "landlord" to include anyone renting dwelling units for at least one month (except hotels, motels, or transient properties), removing previous exceptions for small owner-occupied properties. Landlords must now provide receipts detailing the payment amount, purpose, date, and names of both parties for every cash rent payment. Violations carry escalating penalties ($100 for first offense, increasing for repeat violations), and tenants can use a landlord's failure to provide receipts as a defense in eviction cases for nonpayment.
This bill establishes New Jersey's "Safe and Sanitary Rental Housing Act," requiring landlords to register with local authorities within 30 days of creating a new tenancy or building occupancy. Landlords must provide detailed information including owner contact details, emergency contacts, and maintenance staff locations. The law also mandates a 90-day registration period before landlords can pursue eviction proceedings and ties eligibility for state housing subsidies to this registration requirement. It directly affects landlords of rental properties, particularly multi-unit buildings, and aims to improve tenant safety through stronger accountability measures.
This bill establishes clear standards for rent-to-own agreements in New Jersey, directly protecting tenant-buyers who pay rent with the option to purchase a home later. It requires written agreements disclosing all key terms (total price, lease duration, option fees, rent credits), mandates property inspections before signing, and ensures landlords provide full financial disclosures. The bill prohibits unfair practices like non-refundable fees without cause, requires 30 days to cure defaults, and prevents landlords from waiving tenant rights. It also ensures tenant-buyers' interests remain protected if the property is sold to a third party or if insurance/eminent domain payments are involved.
This bill (S 402) creates confidentiality rules for landlord-tenant court records in New Jersey. It prohibits public access to these records for 60 days after filing, and permanently blocks access for records where tenants win cases, settle favorably, or file valid legal claims against landlords. Landlords and tenant screening agencies can only access records if a judgment for possession is entered and no appeal occurs. The law directly affects tenants (by protecting their records from being used to deny housing) and landlords (who lose access to basic filing data for screening purposes).
This bill extends a 5-business-day grace period for rent payments to tenants receiving public assistance, preventing landlords from charging late fees during this time. It directly affects qualified tenants who receive benefits like Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Work First New Jersey payments. The key change requires the grace period to start only after the tenant receives their final monthly public assistance payment, and leases must specify scheduled payment dates. Landlords cannot impose late charges before the grace period begins, aligning the timing with when tenants typically receive their assistance funds.
This bill prohibits landlords from charging more than $5 per month for online rent payments, such as credit/debit card or digital transfer fees. Landlords must cover any fees exceeding $5 or reimburse tenants within 10 days, and provide itemized receipts showing compliance. It directly affects renters - especially low-income tenants, seniors, and disabled individuals - who often face these extra charges. The law aims to prevent exploitative costs while aligning with existing housing protections.
This bill bans landlords and housing programs from using credit scores or credit reports to evaluate applicants for affordable housing. It directly affects low- and moderate-income households seeking subsidized housing or units restricted to such households. Instead of relying on credit scores, it requires individualized assessments of applicants' ability to pay rent based on income relative to rent (2x or 2.5x rent, depending on subsidy type). The law aims to prevent discriminatory rejections that disproportionately impact people of color, disabled individuals, and others facing systemic barriers.
This bill (S 2726) would allow New Jersey's Governor to issue an executive order preventing evictions and foreclosures for two specific groups during a federal government shutdown: federal employees who are furloughed or unpaid, and recipients of SNAP food assistance. The order would pause enforcement of eviction/foreclosure judgments (like removals or warrants) but not stop the legal proceedings themselves. Exceptions permit enforcement only if a court deems it necessary for justice or if the eviction isn't based on nonpayment of rent. The order would remain in effect for up to one month after the shutdown ends.
This bill amends New Jersey's emergency assistance program to expand temporary rental assistance for individuals facing homelessness, domestic violence, or extreme hardship. It allows recipients to receive up to 24 cumulative months of emergency assistance (extending the previous 12-month limit) under specific conditions, such as for families with dependent children in extreme hardship, disabled individuals, seniors over 60, or those providing full-time care for disabled dependents. Key provisions include mandatory monthly case reviews for extended assistance, requiring case management services focused on housing stability, and creating a new tracking system to report assistance usage annually to the legislature. The bill directly affects low-income residents receiving emergency aid through Work First New Jersey or Supplemental Security Income who face urgent housing crises.
