{"id":375062,"date":"2019-05-30T16:52:56","date_gmt":"2019-05-30T21:52:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ability-fl-prod.internetbrands.com\/ability-law\/state\/new-jersey-law\/new-jersey-security-deposit-laws.html"},"modified":"2019-05-31T13:32:28","modified_gmt":"2019-05-31T18:32:28","slug":"new-jersey-security-deposit-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/new-jersey-law\/new-jersey-security-deposit-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"New Jersey Security Deposit Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

New Jersey Security Deposit Laws<\/h1>\n
\n
\n

Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

States have laws that outline the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants. These laws govern things like when a landlord can raise rent and end a tenancy, as well as when they can keep a tenant’s security deposit<\/a>. When it comes to security deposits, states – including New Jersey – also have laws that set deadlines for returning security deposits as well as limits as to what a landlord can require as a security deposit.<\/p>\r\n

New Jersey Security Deposit Laws at a Glance<\/h2>\r\n

Reading the actual text of a law is an important step in legal research, but it can be very helpful to also read an overview of laws since statutes aren’t always written for ease of understanding. In the following chart, you’ll find an overview of security deposit laws with links to relevant statutes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Statute(s)<\/b><\/td>\r\n

New Jersey Statutes, Title 46, Subtitle 2, Chapter 8, Section 46:8-19<\/a>, et seq. (Security Deposits<\/i>)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Security Deposit Limits<\/b><\/td>\r\n

The security deposit can’t be more than one and a half month’s rent<\/i><\/b>. If a landlord raises the rent, they can also raise the security deposit, but it can’t be more than a 10% increase (in any given year).<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Return of the Security Deposit by Landlord<\/b><\/td>\r\n

The timeline for when a landlord must return the security deposit depends on the circumstances:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • 30 days<\/i><\/b> after the tenant moves out if they moved out under normal circumstances.<\/li>\r\n
  • 15 days<\/i><\/b> after the tenant moves out if the tenant ends the lease because they are a victim of domestic violence.<\/li>\r\n
  • 5 days<\/i><\/b> after the tenant moves out if they left the rental unit because of a fire, flood, evacuation, or the condemnation of the property.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Deduction from Security Deposit<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

A landlord in New Jersey is permitted to keep all or some of the security deposit for:<\/p>\r\n