NJ Truth in Renting Act rules require most New Jersey landlords to give you a free guide, written by the state, that explains your rights as a renter. Under the NJ Truth in Renting Act, your landlord must give you the latest statement at or before the time you sign your lease.
What NJ Truth in Renting Act Actually Says
The NJ Truth in Renting Act is a short law with a simple goal. Tenants should know their basic rights before trouble starts. So the state writes the guide, and the landlord must deliver it. If you got a letter citing N.J.S.A. 46:8-43, this is the law it means.
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) writes the statement. DCA posts it online in English and Spanish. It covers leases, security deposits, rent, repairs, evictions, and more. It is information only, not legal advice. However, it points you to the exact laws that protect you. You can read the full Truth in Renting guide from DCA for free.
The NJ Truth in Renting Act also helps you fight unfair lease terms. Under N.J.S.A. 46:8-48, you can ask a court to remove a lease provision. This applies to terms that break state law, local ordinances, or government rules. It also applies to terms you believe are unreasonable.
| Provision | Exact rule | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Who writes the statement | DCA, in English and Spanish, posted on its website | N.J.S.A. 46:8-43 to 51 |
| Current tenants | One copy within 30 days after DCA posts it | N.J.S.A. 46:8-44 to -46 |
| New tenants | Most current copy at or before signing the lease | N.J.S.A. 46:8-44 to -46 |
| Covered rentals | Term of at least one month; more than 2 units, or more than 3 if the landlord lives there | N.J.S.A. 46:8-44 |
| Not covered | Hotels, motels, and guest houses for transient or seasonal tenants | N.J.S.A. 46:8-44 |
| Penalty | Not more than $100 per offense | N.J.S.A. 46:8-47 |
| Court | Superior Court, Law Division, Special Civil Part in your county | N.J.S.A. 46:8-47 |
| Illegal lease terms | Tenant may ask the court to remove them | N.J.S.A. 46:8-48 |
Who NJ Truth in Renting Act Covers (and Who It Does Not)
The NJ Truth in Renting Act covers tenants with a rental term of at least one month. The building must have more than two dwelling units. If the landlord lives in one unit, it must have more than three. For example, a 10-unit apartment complex is covered. A 4-unit building with the owner living upstairs is covered too.
Some rentals are left out. Buildings with two or fewer units do not need the statement. Owner-occupied buildings with three or fewer units are also exempt. In addition, N.J.S.A. 46:8-44 leaves out hotels, motels, and guest houses. That exception covers places serving transient or seasonal tenants.
Falling outside the NJ Truth in Renting Act does not erase your other rights. Many New Jersey tenant laws still apply to smaller buildings. Some towns also have rent control or rules on rent increases. DCA posts a survey of towns with rent control on its landlord-tenant information page. Confirm your town’s rules with your municipal office.
What Your Landlord Must Do Under This Law
Your landlord has two delivery duties under the NJ Truth in Renting Act. First, every current tenant gets one copy after DCA posts a new version. Second, every new tenant gets the most current copy at or before lease signing. In most cases, landlords include it with the lease papers.
The statement costs nothing. DCA no longer sells the booklet. Anyone can print it from the DCA website. As a result, a landlord has no good reason to skip it. The DCA guide also lists other notices landlords should give. For example, it lists the flood zone notice under N.J.S.A. 46:8-50.
Keep your own records either way. Write down the date you got the statement. If you never got it, note that too. Save your lease packet, emails, and texts. Typically, a clear paper trail helps if a dispute comes up later.
What You Can Do When It Is Broken
A landlord who breaks the NJ Truth in Renting Act can face a penalty of not more than $100 per offense. That rule is in N.J.S.A. 46:8-47. The penalty is collected through summary proceedings under the Penalty Enforcement Law. The Superior Court, Law Division, Special Civil Part in your county hears these cases.
Start simple. Ask your landlord in writing for the current statement. Meanwhile, download your own free copy from DCA. However, some leases have terms that break the law. If yours does, N.J.S.A. 46:8-48 lets you ask the Special Civil Part to remove them. Confirm who can file and how with your county court clerk.
If you face eviction, act fast. Contact Legal Services of New Jersey at (732) 572-9100 or a tenant attorney right away. Do not count on a missing statement alone to stop an eviction. The NJ Truth in Renting Act is only one piece of your case. A lawyer can look at the whole picture, and you may have more defenses than you think.
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Frequently Asked Questions
My landlord never gave me the statement. Does that cancel my lease?
The NJ Truth in Renting Act sets a penalty of up to $100 per offense. The DCA guide does not say a missing statement cancels your lease. Check with a local legal-aid office about how it affects your situation.
I rent in a two-family house. Does this law apply to me?
In most cases, no. The NJ Truth in Renting Act does not require the statement for buildings with two or fewer units. You can still download the free guide from DCA and read it yourself.
Is the Truth in Renting statement available in Spanish?
Yes. DCA posts the statement in both English and Spanish. Both versions are free to download and print from the DCA landlord-tenant page.
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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.