New Jersey Landlord Responsibility Statement

Effective Date: November 1, 2025
Jurisdiction: State of New Jersey
Applies To: All landlords, property managers, agents and listing entities using the Tentunit platform to list residential rental properties (including student, young-professional and family housing) in New Jersey.

1. Purpose

This Statement defines the operational, legal, and ethical standards that must be met by landlords listing properties on the Tentunit platform in New Jersey. Use of the platform constitutes landlord acceptance of this Statement, the Tentunit Terms of Service, Payment Terms, Fair Housing & Equal Access Policy, and full compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws. This document does not constitute legal advice; landlords should consult counsel for full compliance.

2. Listing Accuracy, Transparency & Advertising Standards

Landlords must ensure that all listings are truthful, current, and fully represent the rental offering.

Required Disclosures

Each listing on Tentunit must clearly and accurately include the following:

The monthly rent amount, lease term (start and end or renewal/notice terms) and earliest availability date.
All up-front and recurring fees: application fees, move-in or administrative fees, parking or amenity fees, pet fees or deposits, any utility re-billing or allocation charges.
The security deposit amount or equivalent fee-in-lieu, with disclosure of conditions for return or deductions.
Responsibility for utilities: which are tenant-paid, which are landlord-paid, and method of any sub-metering/allocation.
The unit’s condition and amenities: photographs must depict the actual unit being offered (not simply a staged “model unit” unless clearly identified as such).
Screening criteria: income requirement, credit requirement, guarantor/co-signer policy, student eligibility.
Availability status: Listing must reflect actual availability; units no longer available must be withdrawn or updated promptly.

Prohibited Practices

Advertising units as available when they are already leased or unavailable.
Misrepresenting unit size (bedrooms/bathrooms), finishes, views, amenities, or location.
“Starting at” or “from” pricing without clear qualification or explanation of eligibility and availability.
Omitting material fees so that effective cost to tenant is materially misleading.
Bait-and-switch: advertising one set of terms and offering materially different ones without disclosure.

Legal & Regulatory Anchors

The New Jersey Security Deposit Law (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 through 46:8-26) governs deposit handling and landlord obligations.
State guidance from the Department of Community Affairs (Security Deposit Bulletin) outlines landlord obligations.
Return-of-deposit statute N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1 addresses timing, itemization, and penalties.

3. Fair Housing & Equal Access

Landlords must comply with federal and state non-discrimination laws:

Federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, disability.
State of New Jersey laws and local ordinances may provide additional protections (e.g., source of income, gender identity).

Landlords must:

Apply screening criteria uniformly to all applicants without regard to protected class.
Provide reasonable accommodations/modifications for persons with disabilities.
Avoid discriminatory advertising language, screening or leasing practices.
Maintain documentation of screening criteria, decisions and any accommodation requests.

4. Communication & Responsiveness Standards

Given the student/young-professional focus of Tentunit, landlords must operate with the following standards:

Acknowledge rental inquiries, application submissions or maintenance requests via Tentunit (or other documented channel) within 24 hours, and provide a substantive response within 48 hours.
Inform applicants of their status and tenants regarding scheduled inspections, maintenance, lease renewal or termination, and other events in writing.
Keep listing information current: rent, fees, availability, photographs, policies must be updated when changed.
Maintain professional, respectful and non-discriminatory communication. Failure to maintain responsiveness or abusive conduct may result in listing removal or account suspension on Tentunit.

5. Lease Execution & Legal Compliance

All leases executed via Tentunit for New Jersey properties must comply with state statutory requirements and best-practice standards.

Required Lease Elements

The lease must be written (or fully documented electronically) and should include landlord/agent name and address for service of process.
Clear specification of rent amount, lease term, renewal/termination mechanics, security deposit amount and handling, move-in fees, utilities responsibility, screening policy.
Disclosures mandated by federal law (e.g., lead-based paint for pre-1978 units) and any applicable state/local disclosures.
Lease must prohibit unlawful landlord self-help (lock-outs, utility shut-offs) and comply with New Jersey’s eviction statutes and tenant protections.
Lease may not waive tenant statutory rights or impose unconscionable terms inconsistent with state law.

Termination & Renewal

For fixed-term leases, tenancy terminates at the end of the term unless renewed per contract.
For periodic tenancies, written notice must comply with applicable statute or regulation.
Landlords must follow proper statutory procedures for termination and eviction; self-help is prohibited.

6. Habitability, Maintenance & Repair Obligations

Landlords have a non-waivable duty to provide and maintain habitable rental premises as per New Jersey law and any municipal housing codes.

Key obligations include:

Safe and operable utilities: heating, plumbing, electrical, sanitation must function.
Structural integrity: roofs, walls, floors, stairways, porches, windows/doors, locks must be maintained.
Life-safety equipment: smoke detectors, carbon-monoxide alarms if required by local code.
Respond promptly to tenant repair requests that materially affect health or safety.
Maintain documentation: repair requests, work orders, completion records, tenant communications.

Landlord may not retaliate against tenant for exercising rights (e.g., requesting repairs) and must not interfere with the tenant’s peaceful enjoyment.

7. Entry, Inspection & Tenant Privacy

Landlords must respect the tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment, and must enter the premises only with authority and appropriate notice.

New Jersey statute mandates that security deposits be held in trust etc., but while statute does not always spell exact entry-notice timing for all tenancy types, best practice is at least 24 hours’ written notice for non-emergency entry.
Entry permitted for legitimate reasons: repairs, inspections, improvements, showings — during reasonable hours, absent emergency.
Landlord must document notices, tenant responses, inspection outcomes.
Before move-out, landlord should offer tenant a chance to inspect and document condition (best practice).

8. Security Deposit Handling & Escrow Administration

Handling of security deposits in New Jersey is among the most regulated in the United States; strict compliance is required.

Maximum Amount & Increases

Under N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.2, the security deposit may not exceed 1½ times the monthly rent.
An annual increase to the required deposit cannot exceed 10% of the prior deposit amount.

Deposit Storage & Interest

Per N.J.S.A. 46:8-19, the deposit remains the property of the tenant and must be held in trust by the landlord.
If a building has 10 or more rental units (or as required by regulation), landlord must invest or deposit the funds in insured money-market fund or interest-bearing account in New Jersey.
Within 30 days of receiving the deposit, the landlord must provide the tenant with a written notice of: the name and address of the bank or institution, amount of deposit, type of account, and current interest rate.
Annually thereafter the landlord must pay accrued interest (tenant’s portion) or apply it as rent credit, and provide annual notice.

Return of Deposit & Deductions

When tenancy ends, landlord must return the deposit (plus any interest) within 30 days of lease termination—or, if displaced by fire/flood/condemnation, within 5 days in certain cases.
If landlord retains any portion of deposit, they must send the tenant a written itemized statement of all deductions within 30 days.
Valid deductions: unpaid rent, unpaid utilities (if tenant responsible), damage beyond normal wear and tear, lease-authorized charges. Normal wear and tear may not be deducted.
If the landlord fails to comply (return deposit or provide itemized statement within required time), the tenant may recover double the amount of the deposit wrongfully withheld plus court costs and attorney’s fees.

Ownership Transfer

If the property is sold or transferred, the seller‐landlord must transfer the deposit plus any accrued interest to the buyer or notify the tenant of the new holder within required timeframe. (N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1(c))

Tentunit Expectations

Landlords listing on Tentunit must:

Use a signed move-in condition checklist with date-stamped photos.
Provide forwarding-address notice and require tenant to furnish forwarding address in writing when vacating.
Ensure deposit is held in trust and interest obligations are met.
Disclose deposit amount, conditions of return, deduction policy and timeframe clearly in listing and lease.
Maintain full ledger of deposit accounts, interest, deductions, returns and communications for audit.

9. Student & Young-Professional Housing Specific Standards

Given Tentunit’s emphasis on student and young-professional rentals, landlords must observe these additional best practices:

Disclose campus proximity, available public transit or parking options, sub-letting policy, early termination or release options clearly in the listing and lease.
Provide digital onboarding materials tailored for student renters: move-in guide, shared-housing rules, utilities setup instructions, emergency contact info.
Avoid predatory or unfair practices targeted at student renters (e.g., excessive fees, unclear renewal lock-ins, indirect guarantor burdens without alternatives).
Maintain communication channels appropriate to this demographic (mobile notifications, after-hours responsiveness).
Ensure house rules (cleaning schedules, roommate responsibilities, noise policies) do not conflict with statutory tenant rights or landlord duties.

10. Documentation, Audit, Compliance & Platform Enforcement

Landlords must maintain audit-ready documentation and must operate at the level of institutional compliance; Tentunit retains strong enforcement rights.

Record-Keeping Requirements

Landlords must maintain for each property/tenancy:

Listing metadata: upload dates, photos versions, fee schedule, availability changes.
Inquiry and screening logs: timestamps, applicant data (masked as appropriate), decision rationales.
Lease files: executed documents (digital or paper), amendments, renewal/termination records, disclosures.
Maintenance logs: request dates/times, vendor/work orders, completion date/times, tenant communications, photo documentation.
Entry/inspection logs: notice sent dates, purpose of entry, attendees, outcomes.
Security deposit records: deposit amount, date paid, institution holding funds, interest paid/credited, itemized deductions, return date, forwarding address documentation.
Communication logs: tenant-landlord email/messages, scheduled entries, rent reminders, repair status updates.

Enforcement Rights of Tentunit

Tentunit reserves the right to:

Audit landlord compliance without prior notice.
Remove or suspend listings for non-compliance with this Statement, Tentunit policies or law.
Freeze or withhold landlord payouts related to non-compliant units.
Terminate landlord’s account permanently for repeated or serious violations.
Report violations to state or local housing enforcement agencies.
Recover damages, costs, and attorneys’ fees caused by landlord non-compliance.

11. Indemnification

Landlord agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Tentunit, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents and contractors from and against all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs (including attorneys’ fees) arising out of or connected to:

Landlord’s breach of this Statement or any Tentunit policy.
Landlord’s violation of federal, state or local housing laws.
Landlord’s misrepresentation of listing, unit, condition, terms or fees.
Tenant claims arising from landlord acts or omissions.
Platform investigations or regulatory enforcement triggered by landlord non-compliance.

12. Governing Law & Reference Statutes

New Jersey Statutes & Reference Materials

N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 – “Security deposits; investment, deposit, disposition.” NJ.gov+2Justia+2
N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1 – Return of security deposit; itemized statement; penalties. Justia
Department of Community Affairs Security Deposit Bulletin (May 2010; Revised September 2022) NJ.gov
Additional landlord-tenant practice guides: Legal Services of New Jersey “Security Deposits” page LSNJLAW

Federal Law Foundations

Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.)
Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (for units built pre-1978)
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) for eligible tenants