Perth amboy rent control is real, and it covers many rental homes in the city. It is set by a local law, Chapter 353 of the City Code, and enforced by the Perth Amboy Rent Leveling Board. Under perth amboy rent control, an increase can be no more than 3% if water is included in your rent, or 2.5% if it is not. Those caps have been in effect since November 1, 2022.
Is Your Unit Covered by Perth Amboy Rent Control?
Start with this question, because the answer decides everything else. The city’s own brochure says your home “may be subject to rent control.” In other words, many units are covered, but not every one. The full rules on which buildings are covered are in Chapter 353 of the Perth Amboy City Code.
However, the official city page does not list which buildings are exempt. It also gives no cutoff by year built, and it does not say whether owner-occupied houses are covered. So don’t guess. Confirm your address with the Rent Leveling Board before you rely on perth amboy rent control. For example, you could email and ask: “Is my building at [address] covered by Chapter 353?” Save the written answer you get back.
| Rule | What it says | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Cap with water included | Increase may not exceed 3% (effective November 1, 2022, still current in 2026) | Chapter 353, as amended October 12, 2022 |
| Cap without water included | Increase may not exceed 2.5% (effective November 1, 2022, still current in 2026) | Chapter 353, as amended October 12, 2022 |
| Short-term periodic tenants | No increase until the tenancy passes 12 months | Chapter 353, per the city’s Rent Leveling Board page |
| Board’s decision deadline | Board decides within 45 days after a filing | Section 353-6(e), per the Board’s hearing rules |
| Notice of a landlord hardship request | Landlord must notify tenants at least 30 days before the hearing | Section 353-8, per the Board’s hearing rules |
How Much Rent Can Go Up Under Perth Amboy Rent Control
The City Council changed the cap on October 12, 2022. The new cap took effect on November 1, 2022. As of September 2026, the city’s official page still lists it as the current cap. Under perth amboy rent control, the limit depends on who pays for water:
- Water included in your rent: the increase may not exceed 3%.
- Water not included: the increase may not exceed 2.5%.
For example, say your rent is $1,500 and water is included. A 3% increase is $45, so the most your new rent can be is $1,545. If you pay for water yourself, 2.5% is $37.50, so the most is $1,537.50. As a result, your lease and utility bills matter. Check who pays for water before you do the math.
There is also a rule for short-term tenants. If you are a periodic tenant with a lease term under one year, your landlord cannot raise your rent until you have been there more than 12 months. Even then, the increase must stay under the cap.
A landlord can ask the Board for more than the cap. This is called a hardship increase or a capital improvement appeal, under Section 353-8. However, the landlord must notify tenants at least 30 days before the hearing. Service must be in person or by certified mail. The notice must give the hearing date, time, and place, and the amount requested. It must also say where you can read the landlord’s application. You have the right to go to that hearing and speak up.
The city page doesn’t explain whether unused increases can be “banked,” so ask the Board before you accept that.
Eviction Protections in This City
Perth Amboy’s rent control page is about rent increases, not evictions. The city page does not list any local just-cause rules or relocation payments. In most cases, eviction protection for New Jersey renters comes from the state’s Anti-Eviction Act. That law typically means a landlord needs a legal reason to evict, and only a court can order you out.
In practice, perth amboy rent control and state eviction law work together. For example, you cannot lawfully be evicted just for refusing to pay an increase that breaks the cap. That kind of increase is not legal rent. However, a landlord may still file in court, so take any court paper seriously. Confirm the exact eviction rules with legal aid, because the city’s rent control page does not cover them.
What to Do If Your Landlord Breaks Perth Amboy Rent Control
If your increase is over the cap, you can file a tenant complaint with the Rent Leveling Board. This is the main way to enforce perth amboy rent control. Get the complaint form, fill it out, and make copies. You file the original plus one copy, and you keep another copy for yourself. Bring it to the Office of Housing and Social Services, or mail it to:
Alexander F. Jankowski Community Center, 1 Olive Street, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
Your complaint only counts once the Board stamps it “received.” After that, the Board Secretary mails a copy to your landlord. To get a hearing, you must also send in a completed Request for Hearing form. It must reach the Board Secretary at least 10 calendar days before the next meeting. Otherwise, your case waits for a later meeting.
Bring proof. Typically, that means your lease, the increase notice, rent receipts or bank records, and proof of who pays water. Black out personal ID numbers before you hand anything in. Under the Board’s rules, it should decide within 45 days of the filing. The decision is issued in writing as a resolution. If you need help with the form, email [email protected]. You can also call Board Secretary Dianne Roman at 732-826-1690, ext. 4322. Details are on the Perth Amboy Rent Leveling Board page.
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If you disagree with the Board’s decision, you can appeal to the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Middlesex County. That process is formal, so talk to a lawyer first. Legal Services of New Jersey has an office at 313 State Street, Suite 308, in Perth Amboy. Their phone is (732) 324-1613. Call them right away if you also face an eviction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current perth amboy rent control cap in 2026?
The caps took effect on November 1, 2022, and the city still lists them as current in 2026. The limit is 3% if water is included in your rent. It is 2.5% if water is not included.
Can my landlord raise my rent more than the cap?
Only with approval from the Rent Leveling Board, through a hardship or capital improvement application. You must get notice at least 30 days before that hearing, and you can attend. Without Board approval, an increase over the perth amboy rent control cap may be unlawful, and you can file a complaint.
Where do I file a rent complaint in Perth Amboy?
File with the Office of Housing and Social Services at 1 Olive Street, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861, in person or by mail. You can also email [email protected] to ask about forms. Keep a stamped copy for yourself.
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Sources & How to Verify
The rules on this page are drawn from official government and legal-aid sources. Tenant law changes, so always confirm the exact rule with your state’s statute or a local legal-aid office.
- HUD: hud.gov — federal renter protections and fair housing
- Legal Services Corporation: lsc.gov — find free legal aid in your state
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex — plain-English legal definitions
- Your state statute & court self-help portal: search “[your state] landlord tenant act” and “[your state] court self-help eviction” for the exact law and forms
Content last reviewed September 2026. If you notice outdated information, please contact us.
New Jersey Renter Guides
- New Jersey Eviction Process
- New Jersey Tenant Rights
- New Jersey Security Deposit Law
- New Jersey Rent Increase Laws
- New Jersey Repairs and Habitability
- Breaking a Lease in New Jersey
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Informational only — not legal advice. Tenant Rights Info is an independent educational resource, not a law firm, and this page does not provide legal advice. Landlord-tenant law varies by state and city and changes over time, so always verify the exact rule with your state’s statute, your local court’s self-help portal, or a legal-aid office. For urgent situations like an active eviction, contact a local legal-aid office or a licensed tenant attorney in your state right away.