This information is prepared as an informational service only and should not be relied upon as official records of any kind The state law compiled, summarized, and linked to at this site is believed to have been accurate and up-to-date at the time it was created.  However, members are reminded that laws and regulations constantly change and, accordingly, we cannot make any representation, expressed or implied, that the information contained here is the very latest available, that it can be used without independent legal or professional advice, or that it would be interpreted in any particular way by any governmental agency or court.

Rent Control

Newark, New Jersey

Ordinance Adoption Date

November 20, 1973 (Title 15, Housing Chapters 9A and 9B). Last amended in 12/91.

Exceptions

Owner-occupied one, two, three, and four-unit family dwellings. [15:913-2.] New construction, vacant properties and substantially rehabilitated vacant units are all exempt from rent control for five years. [15:913-17.]

Administration

Appointed five-member Rent Control Board. [I 5:9B-9.] City Hall, Room 113, 920 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102. For information regarding ordinance, call 201-349-2 262.

Registration

Required. [I 5:9A-1 0.1

Rent Formula

Rents may not be increased by more than 5% for dwellings of 49 units or less, or 4% for dwellings of 50 units

Individual Adjustments

Landlord may increase the rent for hardship, for a capital improvement surcharge, a substantial rehabilitation exemption, a utilities surcharge and alter a unit is vacated. [15:913-7, 15;9B-8, 15:913-17(c), 15:913-16.]

Rent Increase Notice Requirements

Landlord must notify the Board and tenant at least 60 days before the effective date of the increase.

The Board or the tenant may request a hearing within 30 days of receipt of notice from the landlord. [15:913-7 and 8.] For a utilities surcharge, the landlord must send notice to the tenant within 14 days after the landlord applies to the Board. [15:913-16.]

Vacancy Decontrol

Vacant units which remain vacant for a minimum of 18 months remain outside of the rent control ordinance for a period of five years. [15:913-1 7(b).] Apartments which become vacant arid in which the landlord spent more than $100 times the number of rooms in the unit for the purpose of rehabilitating the apartment may have their rent increased a maximum of 25% of the prior rent. Landlord must post his application to the Board for this rent increase in a conspicuous place in the apartment building on the date of the application. [15:913-1 7(d).]

Eviction

Landlord must show just cause to evict.

Penalties

Violation of ordinance is punishable by a maximum of  $500 fine and/or 90 days imprisonment. [I 5:9A- 14 and 15:913-18.]

Other Features

Landlord may seek a tax surcharge from a tenant because of an increase in municipal property taxes after giving the tenant one month's notice. [15:913-5.] If there is a tax decrease, the tenant is also entitled to a tax reduction. [15:913--6.]