This bill aims to protect New Jersey tenants from excessive surcharges imposed by landlords for online rent payment methods. It prohibits landlords from charging any surcharge that exceeds five dollars per monthly rental payment when tenants use electronic payment methods. If a third-party online payment system requires a surcharge above this limit, the landlord must either absorb the cost or reimburse the tenant for the excess amount. Additionally, landlords are required to provide tenants with a detailed document itemizing any charges related to online rent payment surcharges and must include an attestation with each receipt affirming compliance with these provisions.

The bill also establishes penalties for landlords who violate these regulations, increasing the maximum penalty from $100 to $1,000 for each offense to reflect the rising costs of renting in New Jersey. It allows tenants to pursue a private cause of action against landlords for violations, enabling them to recover the surcharge amounts, along with reasonable attorney fees and other related expenses. The legislation is set to take effect three months after its enactment and will apply to any surcharges charged after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 46:8-49.1, 46:8-49.2, 46:8-47