Bill > S219

This bill establishes new guidelines for determining creditworthiness for individuals applying for affordable housing programs, aiming to prevent unfair denial of housing due to past financial struggles often caused by the very lack of affordable housing. It defines "ability to pay rent" based on income multiples of the tenant's portion of the rent, and clarifies what constitutes an "affordable housing applicant" and "deep rental subsidy." Crucially, the bill prohibits the use of credit or other risk scores or assessments to evaluate the creditworthiness of these applicants, mandating instead an individualized assessment of their income, employment, and payment history, including extraordinary circumstances that may have affected their finances. For applicants with deep rental subsidies, denial is only permissible if they failed to pay their rent share multiple times within three years, and even then, an individualized assessment is required, considering any bona fide reasons for non-payment and subsequent payment of arrears. The bill also creates a rebuttable presumption of creditworthiness if an applicant demonstrates an ability to pay rent, has a history of regular income, and made good faith efforts to meet financial obligations despite income below self-sufficiency levels, and offers a similar presumption for those who have completed certified credit counseling. Landlords must provide written notice of any adverse action on an application, detailing the specific reasons and any screening information used, and must report annual data on denials to the Attorney General, disaggregated by applicant demographics. Finally, the bill makes it unlawful discrimination to violate these creditworthiness evaluation provisions and allows individuals to file complaints with the Division on Civil Rights or in Superior Court.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S219