Housing (Renters)

This bill restricts eligibility for new affordable housing units and the state's rental assistance program to households where at least one member has either lived in New Jersey for two consecutive years or worked in the state 35+ hours per week for two consecutive years. It applies to new contractual guarantees or deed restrictions for low/moderate-income housing and updates the state rental assistance program to require these same residency or work history criteria. The key mechanism requires housing providers and the state program to verify these specific residency or employment requirements at the time of application. This affects new affordable housing developments and applicants for state rental aid, but does not change existing housing or programs.

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.

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.