The New Jersey Rental Lease Agreements are contracts that permit property owners to legally allow tenant(s) to live in their property in exchange for set monthly payments. Once a landlord downloads a contract they can make any necessary edits to account for anything unique to their renting situation. Upon completing any edits, the landlord should save the form and re-use it as a template every time they need to sign a new lease. This method saves time and the process of going through the form ensures the landlord understands every section in depth.
Commercial Lease Agreement – For property managers of commercial property, the agreement sets conditions regarding the rental of property to a business or franchise owner.
Lease to Own Agreement – A contract used by those selling a home to establish a situation in which their property is initially leased, and later purchased by the tenant(s). It’s important to note that the tenants have the option, not the requirement, to purchase the home.
Month-to-Month Lease Agreement – A short-term lease that renews on a monthly basis. It is preferred by landlords who do not wish to (or cannot) commit to a long-term (1+ year) lease.
Roommate Agreement – A form used for preventing disagreements and conflicts among roommates sharing the same rented property. Once it has been completed, it should be read and signed by all roommates to provide that everyone is on the same page.
Standard Residential Lease Agreement – Used for leasing apartments, homes, rooms, and any other non-commercial property. Has a typical lease contract length of one (1) year, although the landlord and tenant(s) can negotiate a shorter or longer-term if they wish.
Sublease Agreement – A contract created to establish legal terms that allow for a tenant to lease part or all of their rental dwelling to another party.
A New Jersey Lease Agreement is a property management document used for legally renting out a unit or entire property. Once signed by a landlord and tenant, it serves as a reference to each party’s legal responsibilities to one another. Landlords are advised to require all parties interested in signing a lease to fill out a rental application, which provides landlords with a summary of the applicant’s background, character, and relevant experiences.
Landlord-Tenant Guides / Handbooks
There is state-required date rent that must be paid by. Therefore, the due date of rent should be clearly outlined in a written rental agreement. In accordance with § 2A:42-6.1 & § 2A:42-6.3, there is a grace period of five (5) business days exclusively available to senior citizens. To qualify, the senior citizens must receive Social Security Old Age Pensions, Railroad Retirement Pensions or other governmental pensions in lieu of Social Security Old Age Pensions, or be a recipient of Social Security Disability Benefits, Supplemental Security Income, or benefits under Work First New Jersey.
Emergency (New Jersey – Right of Entry Bulletin (Pg. 2)): In emergency situations in which there is an immediate threat to the safety or health of the tenants in or near the rental, landlords are not required to give notice prior to entering.
Non-Emergency (§ 5:10-5.1(c)): Landlords need to provide tenants with one (1) days’ notice prior to entering their rental for the purposes of inspection and/or maintenance.
Maximum (§ 46:8-21.2): Landlords may not demand more than one-and-a-half (1.5) times the equivalency of one (1) month’s rent equivalent as a security deposit. If the landlord chooses to collect an additional security deposit (if the tenant leases the property for over a year) the annual amount cannot be more than ten percent (10%) of the current security deposit.
Returning to Tenant (§ 46:8-21.1): The security deposit (with any accrued interest), must be returned by the landlord within thirty (30) days after the ending of the lease.
Deposit Interest (§ 46:8-19): Required to be collected and paid to tenants.
