Bill > A1078

Introduced Session

This bill requires landlords to distribute certain eviction prevention information and resources to their tenants. Pursuant to "The Truth-in-Renting Act" (Truth-in-Renting Act) P.L.1975, c.310 (C.46:8-43 et seq.) a landlord is currently required to distribute to a residential tenant, at or prior to the time when the tenant assumes occupancy of a rental unit, a statement of the legal rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants. In addition to providing this statement, the bill requires the landlord to provide to the tenant certain information and resources, as produced by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), to assist tenants and landlords in avoiding eviction. In addition to the documents being provided at the beginning of an occupancy, the bill also requires the statement and separate eviction avoidance information to be provided at or prior to the time of each lease renewal. Upon receipt of the statement and separate eviction avoidance information, the bill requires the tenant to sign an acknowledgement of receipt for the landlord to maintain as a record to demonstrate compliance with the provisions of the bill. The bill changes the definition of a "landlord" for the purposes of the Truth-in-Renting Act to mean any person who rents or leases or offers to rent or lease, for a term of at least one month, dwelling units, except dwelling units in owner-occupied premises of not more than three dwelling units, or in hotels, motels or other guest houses serving transient or seasonal guests. This change would require landlords of non-owner occupied rental premises containing one or two dwelling units, who are currently excluded from the responsibilities of the Truth-in-Renting Act, to begin complying with the statute. In producing the eviction avoidance information required by the bill, DCA is to list resources that may be beneficial for the purpose of preventing eviction, and information on how to access each resource, including but not limited to:· the New Jersey Eviction Guide, produced by the DCA, to provide interactive guidance on avoiding eviction;· information made available by, and contact information for, the State's Office of Eviction Prevention;· information concerning the State's "Eviction Prevention Program;" and · local court vicinage information for the Comprehensive Court Eviction Defense and Diversion program. This bill also increases the penalty against a landlord who violates the Truth-in-Renting Act from $100 to $1,000 for each offense, and permits a tenant to recover reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, expenses for expert witnesses, and other related fees and expenses incurred in proving the violation. This is reflective of the increase in median rent price in the State from 1975, when the penalty was established, to 2024 data. The bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs, to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of the bill on or before the effective date of the bill on the first day of the third month following enactment.

AI Summary

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Balvir Singh (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Housing Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document