1. Read your Lease

Your lease explains what you and your landlord are responsible for. Ask your landlord questions if you don’t understand something. Keep your lease somewhere safe in case you need to look at it later. Your lease may help if you have to appear in court or respond to an issue from your landlord.

2. Health and Safety

Your landlord has to make sure your apartment is free of health and safety issues. Tell your landlord right away if there is a problem and keep a record (copy, photograph, or dated notes) of your request. If you ask for repairs and your landlord refuses, contact your local building inspector. This is known as the “Warranty of Habitability” law.

3. Protect Yourself and Your Property

Keeping your apartment clean helps protect your health and your belongings from pests, mold, fire, etc. Make sure batteries in smoke detectors work. The landlord’s insurance does not cover your personal belongings – look into renters’ insurance.

4. Meet State Security Deposit Limits and Return Rules

Security deposits in New Jersey cannot surpass one and one-half month’s rent and there is an interest requirement.

5. Rent Receipts

Your landlord is required to write a receipt every time you pay rent (unless you use a check). Save these receipts (or check copies) somewhere safe so you can always prove that you paid rent.

6. Amount of Notice to Increase Rent

New Jersey landlords must give tenants at least 30 days’ notice (in writing) to increase rent or change another term of a month-to-month rental agreement. If you have a long-term lease, however, landlords may not increase the rent until the lease ends and a new tenancy begins.

7. Rent Control in New Jersey

New Jersey has no statewide rent control law, but Perth Amboy has passed rent control ordinances that cover how much and how often rent can be raised. Our local ordinances allows for a maximum of a 5% rent increases each year. Landlords can apply to the county court for increases above the annual amount—for example, if the landlord is not making a fair rate of return.

8. Give your Landlord Access

Your landlord needs access to your apartment to make repairs and do inspections. The landlord must give you 24 hours’ notice for non-emergency access. You are required to let your landlord have access to your apartment if you were given proper notice. Your landlord does not have to give notice in an emergency.

9. Only a Judge Can Evict You

Your landlord has to ask a judge to remove you from your apartment and only a Sheriff or Marshall may remove you from the property. If your landlord tries to put you out without taking you to court, they are breaking the law. Contact free legal help if this happens (i.e. Central Jersey Legal Services). If your landlord asks you to go to court, you need to do so. If you do not go to court, you are more likely to be evicted. If you appear in court, the judge might offer alternatives to eviction.

10. Retaliation is Illegal

Your landlord cannot retaliate against you for asking that repairs be made or for contacting a building inspector.