New Jersey — landlord and rental rules

3 rules across 3 topics, including the county and state rules that bind here. Last verified 2026-08-01.

Rent control

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Rent control is municipal, and roughly 100 towns have it
New Jerseymedium confidence

Verified on 2026-08-01 — 15 days ago.

New Jersey has no statewide rent control. Roughly 100 municipalities impose their own, with caps, exemptions and vacancy rules that differ town by town.

This municipality has not been researched. Read the municipal code — or call the clerk — before assuming rents can be reset on purchase or turnover.

Sources

Just-cause eviction

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Just cause is required on every tenancy
New Jerseyhigh confidence

Verified on 2026-08-01 — 15 days ago.

The New Jersey Anti-Eviction Act requires good cause for every residential eviction statewide, with no small-landlord exemption. A month-to-month tenant cannot be removed simply by ending the term.

Practical effect for a buyer: an occupied unit conveys with its tenant, and a business plan that depends on delivering the building vacant needs a lawful cause for each unit before it is a plan.

Sources

Lead paint

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Pre-1978 one- and two-family rentals need a lead inspection
New Jerseyhigh confidence

Verified on 2026-08-01 — 15 days ago.

Pre-1978 one- and two-family rentals must be inspected for lead-based paint hazards at tenant turnover or every three years, whichever comes first. The certificate is valid for two years.

Budget the inspection and any remediation into the turnover cost of every pre-1978 unit, not into a one-off line at closing.

Construction
Built before 1978

In effect since 2022-07-22.

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