New Jersey (NJ) Month-to-Month Lease Agreement

This template encompasses vital details such as rent specifications, property rules, and termination conditions. 

Month-to-Month Leases in New Jersey

Lease Termination & Renewal 

• Landlords must give tenants, or the other way around, one month’s advance notice before terminating the contract. 
• As long as it isn’t because of retaliation, the lessor can terminate the lease for any reason with the proper notice. 
• The lease will continue indefinitely until either Party sends a notification to quit it.

Rent Increases 

• All local municipalities create their rent control laws, as the state doesn’t have any. 
• Landlords can increase the rent once per lease term, which, for this contract, means once a month. 
• The lessor must give one month’s notice when raising the rent.

Security Deposit

• The maximum security deposit landlords can request equals 1.5 months of rent. 
• The landlord doesn’t have to bear interest on this amount, but they must provide the lessee with a statement on the rental unit’s condition before moving in. 
• After terminating the lease, the lessor has 30 days to return the security deposit and an itemized list of deductions.

Tenant Rights 

• The tenant has a right to a receipt that confirms the deposit is paid and a signed copy of the lease.
• They should be able to enjoy the rental unit without the landlord’s interference unless given proper notice and reason for the interference. 
• If any part of the rental unit causes it to become uninhabitable, and the lessee didn’t cause it, then they can withhold rent until it’s fixed.

Required Disclosures 

There are several disclosures you must be sure to add to the agreement for it to be legally acceptable:

• Flood Zone Notice: Landlords must inform tenants whether the property is in a flood zone. Further, they must tell them of any past floods.
• Truth in Renting Act: If the landlord’s property has more than two dwelling units, they must supply the tenants with the Truth in Renting document. It discusses tenant rights and is available online.
• Window Guards: Tenants with kids aged 10 or younger can request window guards from their lessor. This disclosure must explain that they have that right if they don’t already know.
• Lead-Based Paint Disclosure: If the rental unit is older than 1978, the landlord must disclose the presence of this paint. They should also give the lessee a pamphlet on the hazards of this paint.
• Disclosure Statement to Senior Citizen Housing Residents: In some cases, generally with senior citizens, lessors must provide specific telephone numbers. These numbers are for the local and state officials who accept calls for housing emergencies or complaints.