Renters this year will see new protections against evictions, other legal benefits (2024)

FAQs

Renters this year will see new protections against evictions, other legal benefits? ›

If you live in a New Jersey household with income below 120% of your county's Area Median Income, you are permanently protected from eviction or removal at any time for nonpayment of rent, habitual late payment of rent, or failure to accept a rent increase that accrued from March 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021.

The landlord must be able to prove in court that he has grounds for an eviction. This bulletin outlines the good cause grounds for an eviction of a tenant from residential rental properties in New Jersey, pursuant to the Anti-Eviction Act, as set forth in N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1.

If you've fallen behind on rent, but are able to pay moving forward, you may be able to make a payment plan with your landlord without an eviction case being filed. If your landlord asks you to sign a written agreement, be sure to read it carefully and understand what you are agreeing to do.

Tenants can request an Order for Orderly Removal, How To Apply for an Order for Orderly Removal which grants them more time to move out. This could give them up to seven calendar days to move. They can request a hardship stay How to Apply for a Hardship Stay. This could stop the eviction for up to six months.

Grounds for Eviction in New Jersey

Nonpayment of rent: If a tenant fails to pay rent within the agreed-upon timeframe, landlords can pursue eviction. Violation of lease terms: If a tenant violates any terms of the lease agreement, such as unauthorized pets or subletting, landlords can move forward with eviction.

Even if the landlord does not send you a Notice of Entry, you should file the appeal within 30 days of the decision if at all possible. Unless you specifically ask the original court for a Stay Pending Appeal, the eviction will go forward.

Talk to Your Landlord

Since an eviction will cost both of you money (as well as time), you may be able to come to an agreement without going to court. Your landlord may be willing to stop the eviction if you agree to certain terms, such as paying rent you owe or stopping behavior that violates the lease.

WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS, THE NEW JERSEY ANTI-EVICTION ACT, N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1 ET SEQ., PROTECTS YOUR RIGHT TO REMAIN IN YOUR HOME. FORECLOSURE ALONE IS NOT GROUNDS FOR EVICTION OF A TENANT. YOU ARE PROTECTED BY THIS LAW EVEN IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A WRITTEN LEASE.

The State of New Jersey Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) is a state funded program that provides housing subsidies on behalf of very low-income New Jersey residents, for decent, safe, and sanitary housing. Persons applying must meet all applicable SRAP income and eligibility requirements.

What is the eviction diversion program in NJ? ›

Provides legal services and social service resources for people who are in danger of eviction. May work with landlord and tenant issues and other diversion techniques to help the household from entering the homeless service system.

Landlords in New Jersey cannot violate the implied warranty of habitability, discriminate against tenants, unjustly withhold security deposits, evict tenants without proper notice or due process, raise rent without giving proper notice, enter a tenant's dwelling without reasonable notice except in emergencies, or ...

As long as the tenant does not violate any rules, they can stay until their rental period ends. But if they stay in the property even a day after their lease/rental agreement ends and have not arranged for renewal, landlords can issue a written notice to the tenant to move.

Evictions are a legal process, which means that there are Eviction Hearings that you can attend, during which you can legally fight your eviction.

Landlord harassment typically involves actions taken by a landlord or property owner to make a tenant's living conditions unbearable or to force them to move out. This can include demanding money without notice, refusing to discuss bills, or attempting to change locks without proper eviction procedures.

An eviction hardship extension is a temporary fix for tenants struggling financially. It gives them extra time to catch up on rent payments, acting as a shield against immediate eviction. This breather lets tenants stabilize their finances and keep their housing.

Should any of the options be used, the landlord must issue a 3-Month Notice to Quit to allow the tenant time to vacate the property. If the tenant is unable to vacate the property within 3 months, then the landlord may continue filing for eviction.

New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Just causes for eviction commonly include failure to pay rent, property damage, disturbance or disorderly conduct, other lease violations, criminal activity in a unit, and intent on the part of the landlord to sell, repair, or move into the unit.