In New Jersey, there are no statewide limits on how much a landlord can raise your rent. However, some cities and townships have passed their own local ordinances to limit rental rates.
Here are some of the ordinances currently in place to prevent excessive rent increases:
Newark Rent Control
Newark landlords may increase rent as per the Consumer Price Index- Urban ( (CPI-U%)percentage. Public housing and the owners of 1-4 units are exempted from this ordinance but are still required to register. Also, new units are exempt for 30 years if the landlord applies for a certificate of exemption.
Landlords are required to provide a notice of rent increase 30 days before the next cycle.
Hoboken Rent Control
In Hoboken, the Rent Control Law limits yearly rent increases to a few percent each year, generally matching the Cost of Living Index. However, landlords may seek permission from the city’s Rent Leveling and Stabilization Board for an emergency raise if necessary. This rent control applies to apartments built before 1991.
New Jersey City Rent Control
Rent increases in New Jersey City for properties that were built before June 25, 1987 and are more than four units should be under 4% or be based on the CPI number, whichever is less.
Paterson City Rent Control
In Paterson City, the Rent Leveling ordinance limits how much and how often landlords may increase rent. This ordinance applies doesn’t apply to properties that rent one unit, subsidized housing, and properties built after 1976.
Every landlord may seek an annual raise in the Rent Controlled Apartment’s base rent, which cannot exceed 5% or 3.5 percent for the head of household tenants aged 65 years or older who are found to be disabled by the Social Security Administration under either the Social Security Disability or SSI Disability Programs.
Elizabeth City Rent Control
The rent control ordinance in Elizabeth City, NJ limits how much a landlord can raise the rent to 3 percent each year and tops out at $20 per month.
The properties that are exempt are “motes, hotels, rooming houses and similar type buildings, housing units of two (2) units or less, housing units of three (3) are owner-occupied and housing units of four (4) which are owner-occupied. New housing units constructed after the effective date of this chapter are exempted permanently from this chapter.”
Landlords can increase the rent if they claim hardship or if they make capital improvements.
Minimum 30 Day notice is required at the end of the lease if the landlord is planning to increase rents.
Lakewood City Rent Control
Landlords who provide heat to their tenants are allowed to increase the rent by 6.5% each year, as long as it is not more than the amount set by law. This increase can only happen once a year.
Landlords who do not provide heat to their tenants are allowed to raise the rent once a year. The rent can go up by 5% from the last increase, but this only happens if at least one year has passed.
If the landlord wants to increase the rent, they must follow certain rules. The landlord must deliver written notice of the increase at least 30 days before it goes into effect.
Buildings that have four rental units or less are exempt from this law. The exemption only applies if the building is owner-occupied and not part of a larger complex. Also exempted are new builds, non-profits, etc.
City of Clifton Rent Control
If a landlord provides heat and/or air conditioning for a dwelling unit, the landlord can ask for, receive, or collect an increase in rent for that unit. The increase cannot be more than 3%. This happens after 12 consecutive calendar months have passed since the last rent increase.
If a landlord does not provide heat and/or air conditioning, they can demand, receive or collect an increase in rent. The maximum percentage increase is 2%. The Mayor and Municipal Council will take the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers-Northeast Region (CPI), less energy, into consideration when making this decision.
City of Trenton Rent Control
The current allowable increase for leases expiring between January 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022 is two point two percent (2.2%).
City of Camden Rent Control
Landlords are not allowed to ask for a percentage increase in rent that is more than the average consumer price index for the preceding 12 months, as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, or for more than 6% of the most recent rent, whichever is less.
Landlords can increase the rent each year, but the increase can’t be more than the consumer price index. The original increase and each yearly increase will be calculated by the Department of Human Resources of the City of Passaic. However, no yearly increase can be more than $25 per month.
Union City New Jersey Rent Control
The maximum rent increase you can have every year is 3.5%. But for senior tenants who are sixty-five years old or older and receive benefits from the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled, the maximum rent increase is 2%.
The rent increases permitted in each city and township in New Jersey are governed by the laws and ordinances of each municipality. The rent increases are generally determined by a combination of factors, including the cost-of-living index in that area and the age or type of building or unit. Some municipalities have no rent control, some have guidelines on how much you can raise rents each year, while others have strict limits on how much the rent can increase.
If you are a landlord in New Jersey, it is important to be aware of the rent control policies that apply to your area. Whether you provide heat or air conditioning, how many rental units your building has, and other factors will all impact how much you can raise your tenants’ rents each year. Check with your city or township’s government offices to find out more about the rent control policies that apply to you.
The following are some links to websites that provide more information on how much landlords can raise rent in New Jersey:
Hoboken Rent Leveling and Stabilization
City of Paterson Rent Leveling
Township of Lakewood Ordinance
City of Clifton Rent Control Ordinance
City of Trenton Rent Control Ordinance
City of Camden Rent Control Ordinance
