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 renting or leasing units in non-owner occupied premises with one or two dwelling units, which were previously exempt. 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 and posted on the DCA's website.

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 violations. 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 eviction defense. 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