This bill amends the Truth-in-Renting Act to require landlords to distribute eviction prevention information and resources to their tenants. It expands the definition of "landlord" to include those who rent or lease dwelling units for at least one month, excluding only owner-occupied premises with three or fewer units and transient accommodations. Landlords must provide tenants with a statement of legal rights and responsibilities, as well as additional eviction avoidance information produced by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) at the start of occupancy and at each lease renewal. Tenants are required to acknowledge receipt of these documents, which must be available in both English and Spanish.

Additionally, the bill increases the penalty for landlords who violate the Truth-in-Renting Act from $100 to $1,000 per offense and allows tenants to recover related legal costs. The DCA is tasked with creating and distributing resources that include the New Jersey Eviction Guide, information from the Office of Eviction Prevention, and details about local court programs aimed at preventing eviction. The Commissioner of Community Affairs is required to adopt rules and regulations to implement these provisions by the effective date of the bill, which is set for the first day of the third month following its enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 46:8-44, 46:8-45, 46:8-46, 46:8-47, 46:8-49