Bill > A4899

This bill limits the application fee that landlords or their agents can charge for residential rental properties to a maximum of $50, with specific penalties for violations. The bill establishes a tiered penalty structure where landlords can be fined up to $500 for a first offense, $750 for a second offense, and $1,000 for subsequent offenses. The penalties will be collected through summary proceedings in the Superior Court's Special Civil Part, with the amount wrongfully charged being returned to the applicant. The bill includes exemptions for single-family or two-family dwellings and for real estate commission licensees who are not the property's landlord. Additionally, the bill mandates that the $50 fee limit will be annually adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index for the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island Metropolitan Area, with adjustments only made if the index shows a positive change. The Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs is required to develop rules for implementing the law, including a mechanism for tenants to report violations, and the law will take effect four months after enactment, allowing the division to prepare necessary administrative actions in advance.

Budget and Finance, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A4899