New Jersey Landlord-Tenant Laws: A Plain-English Guide
New Jersey landlord-tenant laws turn on one fact: under the Anti-Eviction Act, most tenants can only be removed for a listed good cause, even when the lease ends. Deposits are capped at 1.5 months and must sit in an interest-bearing New Jersey account, more than 100 towns have rent control, and pre-1978 rentals need lead-safe certification. Here is the landlord year in New Jersey, and how it compares on security deposit laws by state.
By LandlordTested editorial teamLast reviewed
New Jersey at a glance
- Security deposit limit
- 1.5 months' rent total (annual increases limited to 10% of the current deposit)
- Deposit returned within
- 30 daysReturn within 30 days after tenancy ends with an itemized list of deductions (5 business days after displacement by fire, flood or condemnation). Wrongful withholding = double damages.
- Late fees
- No statewide cap (must be in the lease; courts apply a reasonableness test). Senior citizens receiving Social Security/pension/disability benefits get a 5-business-day grace period.
- Rent control
- No statewide rent controlNo statewide rent cap.
- Entry notice
- Reasonable notice; at least 1 day's notice for inspections/repairs in multiple dwellings (N.J.A.C. 5:10-5.1)
- Notice for unpaid rent
- No pre-filing notice required for nonpayment - landlord may file once rent is due and unpaid
- Ending a month-to-month
- Not set by statuteNo-cause termination is not allowed for most tenancies under the Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1); a statutory 'good cause' is required even at lease end. Exception: owner-occupied buildings with 2 or fewer units.
Source: N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 to 46:8-26; N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1, 2A:18-61.2
New Jersey topic guides
General information, not legal advice. Last legal review October 18, 2026. Laws change; check the statute or a local landlord-tenant attorney before acting.
Before the lease
Screening and criminal history
New Jersey’s Fair Chance in Housing Act limits when you can ask about criminal history: generally not until after you’ve made a conditional offer. Write your screening steps in that order, and keep records. New Jersey law also bars discrimination based on lawful source of income, so a voucher counts as income. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, get written consent for reports and send an adverse action notice when a report leads to a denial.
Deposits and the bank notice
The cap is 1.5 months’ rent in total (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 to 46:8-26). On $2,000 rent, that’s $3,000. When you raise the rent, the deposit can grow by no more than 10% of its current amount each year. Put the money in an interest-bearing New Jersey bank account, and within 30 days give the tenant written notice of the bank’s name and address and the amount. Owner-occupied buildings with two or fewer units are partly exempt.
Required paperwork at move-in
- The DCA “Truth in Renting” statement.
- A flood-risk notice (required since March 20, 2024).
- Lead water line disclosures under the 2025 law.
- A lead-safe certificate for most pre-1978 units (P.L.2021, c.182), plus the federal lead-based paint disclosure.
Many towns add rental registration on top of this.
During the tenancy
Rent increases
No statewide cap, but more than 100 municipalities have rent control. If you own in Jersey City, Newark, Hoboken or Paterson, the local ordinance sets the allowed increase. Elsewhere there’s no fixed cap, but a court can refuse to evict a tenant who won’t pay an unconscionable increase, so keep increases in line with the market.
Late fees
No statewide cap; courts apply a reasonableness test, so keep the fee modest. Tenants who are senior citizens receiving Social Security, a pension or disability benefits get a 5-business-day grace period (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-6.1). This area is one to confirm with a local attorney before you set your lease terms.
Entry and repairs
Give reasonable notice. In multiple dwellings, the state housing code calls for at least 1 day’s notice for inspections and repairs (N.J.A.C. 5:10-5.1). For other rentals, put a clear period, such as 24 hours, in your lease.
Ending the tenancy
Good cause, not lease expiration
The Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1) lists the causes that allow removal, such as nonpayment, disorderly conduct, damage, and continued lease violations after written notice. A lease ending is not on the list. If you want a unit back for a sale or your own use, talk to a New Jersey landlord attorney first, because those grounds have their own conditions.
Notices
For nonpayment, no pre-filing notice is required. For most other causes, serve a notice to cease, and if the conduct continues, a notice to quit, generally one month, or 3 days for certain serious causes (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.2).
Move-out and deposit return
Return the deposit with interest and an itemized list of deductions within 30 days after the tenancy ends, or within 5 business days if the tenant was displaced by fire, flood or condemnation. Wrongful withholding costs double damages.
Eviction overview
- File a landlord/tenant complaint in the Special Civil Part of the Superior Court for the county. The fee is $50 plus service.
- The court serves the summons and schedules a settlement conference or trial, typically a few weeks out.
- Obtain a judgment for possession, or a consent settlement.
- Request a warrant of removal, no earlier than 3 business days after judgment.
- A court officer serves it, and the lockout can happen 3 business days later.
Uncontested cases usually take about 4-8 weeks. Fees can change, so confirm with the court.
What’s different in New Jersey
- Statewide just cause. The Anti-Eviction Act means most leases can’t be non-renewed without a statutory cause.
- Deposit handling. A 1.5-month cap, an interest-bearing New Jersey account and a written bank notice to the tenant.
- Fair Chance in Housing. Criminal history questions wait until after a conditional offer.
- Lead and flood paperwork. Lead-safe certification for most pre-1978 rentals, flood-risk notices since March 20, 2024 and lead water line disclosures from 2025.
- Truth in Renting and local rules. You must hand out the DCA statement, and many towns add rent control and registration.
Questions landlords ask
The questions we get most, each answered in a paragraph.
Can a New Jersey landlord refuse to renew a lease?
For most tenants, not without a statutory good cause under the Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1). The end of the lease term isn't a cause by itself. The main exception is an owner-occupied building with two or fewer units. If you own a duplex you live in, you have more flexibility; if you own a triplex or don't live there, plan on just cause.
How much security deposit can a New Jersey landlord charge?
No more than 1.5 months' rent in total, and any yearly increase is limited to 10% of the current deposit (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 to 46:8-26). The money must go into an interest-bearing account in a New Jersey bank, and within 30 days you must tell the tenant the bank's name and address and the amount. Interest is paid yearly or credited toward rent.
Does a New Jersey landlord need to give notice before filing for nonpayment?
No. Once rent is due and unpaid, you can file a landlord/tenant complaint in the Special Civil Part. Other causes, such as repeated lease violations, usually require a notice to cease and then a notice to quit before you file. Late fees can only be included as additional rent in the case if your lease says so.
Is there rent control in New Jersey?
Not statewide, but more than 100 municipalities have local rent control, including Jersey City, Newark, Hoboken and Paterson. Each ordinance sets its own limits, exemptions and registration rules. Before you buy or raise rent, call the municipal rent board or check the town's code for the current allowed increase.
Do New Jersey landlords need a lead-safe certificate?
For most rentals built before 1978, yes. P.L.2021, c.182 requires lead-safe certification at tenant turnover, with a July 2024 deadline for units that didn't turn over. Landlords also must give flood-risk notices (since March 20, 2024) and lead water line disclosures under a 2025 law. A municipal inspector or a certified lead evaluation contractor issues the certificate.