Bill Text: NJ A1740 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Expands applicability of "The Truth-in-Renting Act."

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-27 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee [A1740 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-A1740-Introduced.html

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ASSEMBLY, No. 1740

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  LOUIS D. GREENWALD

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Expands applicability of "The Truth-in-Renting Act."

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

  

An Act expanding applicability of "The Truth-in-Renting Act" and amending P.L.1975, c.310.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    Section 2 of P.L.1975, c.310 (C.46:8-44) is amended to read as follows:

     2.    As used in this act:

     a.     "Landlord" means any person who rents or leases or offers to rent or lease, for a term of at least [1] one month, dwelling units, except dwelling units [in rental premises containing not more than two such units, or in owner-occupied premises of not more than three dwelling units, or] in hotels, motels or other guest houses serving transient guests or seasonal guests.

     b.    "Department" means the Department of Community Affairs.

     c.     "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of [the Department of] Community Affairs.

(cf: P.L.1975, c.310, s.2)

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill expands applicability of "The Truth-in-Renting Act," P.L.1975, c.310 (C.46:8-43 et seq.), to include units in residential rental premises containing one or two dwelling units, and in owner-occupied premises of not more than three total dwelling units.  Current law excludes landlords of these types of dwelling units from the scope of the act.

     The act requires the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to prepare and distribute a reference guide explaining the legal rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords of residential rental units.  Pursuant to this requirement, DCA has produced a booklet that informs tenants of their rights under the law regarding leases, security deposits, discrimination, safety, health, and many other issues.  The act requires landlords to provide a copy of the booklet to each tenant and to post a copy of the booklet so that it is prominent and accessible to all tenants residing in the premises.

     The sponsor believes that tenants residing in single-family, two-family, and (owner-occupied) three-family dwellings should be entitled to receive information explaining their rights under the law just like tenants residing in larger rental properties.  It is particularly important for tenants residing in owner-occupied rental premises of not more than three dwelling units to be educated about the "Security Deposit Law," N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 et seq., because that law does not automatically cover such tenants, but allows them to come under the provisions of the law by providing written notice to the landlord.

     The New Jersey Law Revision Commission recently issued a report recommending a revision of the State's Landlord and Tenant laws. This bill is consistent with the commission's recommendations, which determined that smaller rental premises should not be excluded from applicability of "The Truth-in-Renting Act."