TRUTH IN RENTING - A guide to the rights and responsibilities of residential tenants and landlords in New Jersey

Oct 4, 2026

Uploaded by OmBimo

TRUTH IN RENTING is a reference guide explaining the rights and responsibilities of residential tenants and landlords in New Jersey under the Truth in Renting Act. It covers lease formation (oral or written), key lease terms and renewals, mobile home and public housing lease rules, rent, security deposits, habitability requirements, inspections and access, discrimination protections, and procedures related to termination and eviction. It also addresses foreclosure-related notice duties, tenant protections for seniors and disabled residents, and related agency resources. The guide emphasizes this is informational, not legal advice.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages55

Reading Time2 h 19 min

AccessFree to download

Overview of Truth in Renting Act

The Lease

Mobile Home Leases – Private Residential Leasehold Communities Law

Public Housing Leases

Renewal of a Lease Agreement

Cable Installation

Pets

Termination of a Lease Agreement

Modification of the Rental Premises for People with Disabilities

Right of Entry

Filing a complaint for unlawful entry and detainer

Access to the property

Security Deposits

Discrimination

Disposition of Personal Property

Nonpayment and Distraint

Consumer Fraud Protection

Credit Checks and Background Checks

Rent

Rent Control/Rent Increases

Public Financed and Subsidized Housing

Property Tax Rebate for Tenants

New Jersey Homestead Property Tax Credit

Identity of Landlord

Habitability

Reporting Housing Code Violations

Eviction

Foreclosure

TRUTH IN RENTING A guide to the rights and responsibilities of residential tenants and landlords in New Jersey Department of Community Affairs • Division of Housing and Community Resources 101 South Broad Street,• PO Box 806 • Trenton, NJ 08625-0806 [www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/dhcr](www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/dhcr) Table of Contents Overview of Truth in Renting Act 1 The Lease 2 Mobile Home Leases – Private Residential Leasehold Communities Law 3 Public Housing Leases 4 Renewal of a Lease Agreement 4 Cable Installation 5 Pets 5 Termination of a Lease Agreement 7 Modification of the Rental Premises for People with Disabilities 10 Right of Entry 11 Filing a complaint for unlawful entry and detainer 11 Access to the property 12 Security Deposits 12 Discrimination 15 Disposition of Personal Property 16 Nonpayment and Distraint 18 Consumer Fraud Protection 18 Credit Checks and Background Checks 18 Rent 18 Rent Control/Rent Increases 19 Public Financed and Subsidized Housing 20 Property Tax Rebate for Tenants 21 New Jersey Homestead Property Tax Credit 21 Identity of Landlord 22 Habitability 23 Reporting Housing Code Violations 23 Child-Protection Window Guards/Screens 24 Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors 24 Locks 25 State Heat and Utility Requirements 25 Rent Receivership for Substandard Housing and Diversion of Utilities 26 Multifamily Housing Preservation and Receivership 26 Public Housing Maintenance 27 Federal Lead-Based Paint Disclosure 27 State Lead-Based Paint Disclosure 28 Post of Drinking Water Test Results 28 Remedies if the landlord fails to maintain the property in a habitable condition 29 Flood Plain Notification Requirement 31 Crime Insurance Information 32 Eviction 32 Applicability 33 Exceptions 33 Filing a Complaint for Eviction 33 Judgment for Possession 33 “Self-help” Evictions 34 Causes for Eviction 34 Evictions for Owner-Occupied Two-and Three-Family Dwellings 40 Rooming and Boarding House Evictions 40 Public Housing Evictions 41 Penalties for Eviction Law Violations 41 Reprisal – Civil Rights ofTenants 41 Procedures for Recovery of Premises 42 Foreclosure 42 Notice Requirements to Tenants Prior to the Transfer of Title Due to a Foreclosure 43 Action Notice Requirements to Tenants After the Transfer of Title Due to a Foreclosure 43 Action Senior Citizens and Disabled Tenants in Condominium or Cooperative Conversion 44 Senior Citizens and Disabled Protected Tenancy 44 Tenant Protection Act of 1992 44 Disclosure Statement to Senior Citizen Housing Residents 44 New Jersey Judiciary Ombudsman Offices 46 Anti-Discrimination Offices 46 New Jersey’s Legal Services Programs 47 Additional Agencies and Organizations 48 Greetings from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs When an individual renter and a private individual, corporation, or government agency, the landlord, enter into an agreement to pay money in exchange for housing, a landlord tenant relationship is created. This agreement, the lease, can either be oral or memorialized in writing. Residential leases include private homes, apartment and condominium units, or mobile homes. The lease agreement entered into between the landlord and tenant sets forth the rights and responsibilities of both parties in accordance with Federal and New Jersey statutes, regulations, restrictions, and case law. In accordance with the Truth in Renting Act, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs has posted this reference guide to highlight important information regarding the rights and responsibilities of residential landlords and tenants in New Jersey. This publication highlights information about lease agreements, payment, and collection of rent, habitability, evictions, senior citizens and protected tenants, foreclosures, security deposits, and other topics pertaining to residential tenancies in New Jersey. If you believe y

FAQs

What relationship does the guide describe when a renter pays for housing in New Jersey?

When a tenant and a landlord enter into an agreement to pay money in exchange for housing, a landlord-tenant relationship is created. The agreement is the lease, which can be oral or memorialized in writing.

What is the Truth in Renting Statement and how is it distributed?

The guide describes a Truth in Renting Statement posted by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Landlords subject to the Act must distribute one copy to each tenant within 30 days after it is posted and provide the most current copy to new tenants at or before lease execution.

Is the guide legal advice?

No. The publication states it serves as an informational document only and does not substitute for consulting a lawyer about specific facts and circumstances.

Oct 4, 2026

Uploaded by OmBimo