This bill establishes the offense of harassment of a residential tenant, outlining specific actions that constitute harassment, including creating unsafe living conditions, interfering with a tenant's peace, committing acts of violence, and using coercive behavior to force a tenant to vacate. Penalties for those found guilty can range from a disorderly persons offense to a crime of the third degree, depending on the severity and frequency of the violations. A rebuttable presumption of harassment is established if a landlord engages in prohibited conduct within six months of a tenant asserting their rights or filing a complaint.

Additionally, the bill expands the liability of members of limited liability companies (LLCs) that own residential rental properties, making those with at least a 10 percent interest jointly and severally liable for harassment violations. It mandates that every residential lease include a copy of the harassment provisions, with fines imposed for non-compliance. The Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs is tasked with collecting data on violations and issuing an annual report, while municipalities are empowered to enforce the bill through local ordinances, thereby enhancing tenant protections against harassment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 46:8-28, 42:2C-30