This bill amends the Truth-in-Renting Act to require landlords to distribute specific eviction prevention information and resources to their tenants. It mandates that landlords provide a statement of legal rights and responsibilities, along with additional resources aimed at assisting tenants and landlords in avoiding eviction. This information must be provided not only at the start of a tenancy but also at each lease renewal. Furthermore, tenants are required to sign an acknowledgment of receipt, which landlords must keep as a record of compliance. The definition of "landlord" is also expanded to include those renting out non-owner-occupied premises with one or two dwelling units, thereby increasing the scope of the law.

Additionally, the bill increases the penalty for landlords who violate the Truth-in-Renting Act from $100 to $1,000 per offense, allowing tenants to recover reasonable attorneys' fees and other related costs incurred in proving such violations. The Department of Community Affairs is tasked with creating and distributing the eviction avoidance information, which will include resources like the New Jersey Eviction Guide and contact information for the Office of Eviction Prevention. 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