{"id":375073,"date":"2017-09-20T10:57:08","date_gmt":"2017-09-20T15:57:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/new-jersey-law\/new-jersey-tenant-rights-laws.html"},"modified":"2019-05-24T13:41:40","modified_gmt":"2019-05-24T18:41:40","slug":"new-jersey-tenant-rights-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/new-jersey-law\/new-jersey-tenant-rights-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"New Jersey Tenant Rights Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

New Jersey Tenant Rights 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

If you’re a renter, you probably already have a sense of the different types of issues that can come up during your tenancy. To help resolve these issues, New Jersey has many laws addressing the landlord-tenant relationship in addition to federal and local laws. Read on to learn more about New Jersey tenant rights laws.<\/p>\r\n

Tenant Rights in New Jersey: From Discrimination to Termination<\/h2>\r\n

New Jersey law covers a range of tenant issues, including discrimination, security deposits, and the eviction process. Landlords are prohibited from discriminating against you<\/a> based on race, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, and other protected traits. They are also required to keep the premises in habitable condition<\/a>, complying with health and safety codes and making necessary repairs.<\/p>\r\n

You’re also entitled to proper notice before your landlord can end the tenancy. For example, your landlord must give you three months’ notice<\/i> to end a yearly tenancy, and one months’ notice<\/i> for month-to-month tenancies. They are also required to return your security deposit<\/a> to you within 30 days<\/i> after the lease or rental agreements ends.<\/p>\r\n

These and other laws are meant to protect you within the landlord-tenant relationship. Therefore, you should also know that your landlord may not retaliate against you by raising the rent or evicting you<\/a> simply because you tried to enforce your rights or complained to a government authority about code violations.<\/p>\r\n

Summary of New Jersey Tenant Rights Laws<\/h2>\r\n

While it’s important read the actual text of a statute, it’s very helpful to also read a summary of the statute in plain English. The following chart provides a summary of New Jersey state laws governing the landlord-tenant relationship, including links to key statutes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Statute(s)<\/b><\/td>\r\n

New Jersey Statutes, Title 46, Subtitle 2, Chapter 8, Section 46:8-1<\/a>, et seq. (Leasehold Estates; Landlord and Tenant<\/i>)<\/p>\r\n

Security Deposits<\/b><\/td>\r\n
    \r\n
  • Limit for Security Deposits<\/b><\/i>: No more than one and a half times the amount of monthly rent.<\/li>\r\n
  • Returning the Security Deposit<\/b><\/i>: Must return all or part of the security deposit within 30 days (with interest in many cases).<\/li>\r\n
  • Keeping the Security Deposit<\/b><\/i>: All or part of the security deposit may be used by the landlord according to the contract, lease, or agreement.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Rent<\/b><\/td>\r\n

The landlord may not raise rent during lease term unless the lease agreement allows it. However, the landlord can raise the rent upon lease renewal with proper notice.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Living Conditions<\/b><\/td>\r\n

Landlord must maintain habitable unit: conduct repairs to vital facilities (where damage not caused by tenant), and comply with applicable housing codes.
\r\nWith reasonable notice, landlord may enter unit for certain reasons including:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • To make necessary repairs;<\/li>\r\n
  • Inspection; or<\/li>\r\n
  • Emergency (no notice required<\/i><\/b>).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Ending or Renewing a Tenancy<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Landlord must give notice to terminate the tenancy:<\/p>\r\n