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Haddonfield is a small, historic borough in Camden County with a population of roughly 11,000. Though it is a predominantly owner-occupied community, a meaningful share of residents rent apartments, condominiums, and single-family homes. Renters here frequently search for clarity on security deposit rules, eviction procedures, and whether any local rent regulations apply to their unit.
New Jersey provides some of the strongest tenant protections in the United States, and those state laws apply fully to Haddonfield renters. The core statutes — including the Truth in Renting Act (N.J.S.A. 46:8-43 et seq.), the Security Deposit Law (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 et seq.), and the Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1 et seq.) — govern the landlord-tenant relationship from lease signing through move-out. Haddonfield has enacted no additional local ordinances that modify these baseline protections.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change, and individual circumstances vary. If you have a specific legal problem, consult a licensed New Jersey attorney or contact a legal aid organization.
Haddonfield does not have a local rent control ordinance. Unlike cities such as Newark or Trenton, which have enacted municipal rent leveling ordinances under authority granted by the New Jersey Rent Control Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-1 et seq.), the Borough of Haddonfield has never passed comparable legislation. New Jersey is a home-rule state — municipalities may adopt rent control if they choose, but the state does not require them to do so, and Haddonfield has not done so.
In practical terms, this means that once your current lease expires, your landlord may propose any rent increase for a renewal or new tenancy. There is no cap on the percentage or dollar amount of a rent increase in Haddonfield, and no registration or justification requirement before raising the rent. However, a landlord cannot raise the rent mid-lease unless the lease expressly permits it, and any increase must comply with proper notice requirements under state law.
Tenants who believe a rent increase is retaliatory — for example, issued in response to a habitability complaint — may have protection under New Jersey's anti-retaliation statute, N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.10, discussed further below.
New Jersey's landlord-tenant statutes provide robust baseline protections that apply to all Haddonfield renters, regardless of the absence of local ordinances.
Implied Warranty of Habitability (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-85 et seq.; Marini v. Ireland, 56 N.J. 130 (1970)): Every residential landlord in New Jersey has an implied duty to maintain rental units in a safe, sanitary, and habitable condition. This obligation covers essential services such as heat, hot water, functioning plumbing, weatherproofing, and freedom from vermin infestations. If a landlord fails to make necessary repairs after written notice, tenants may pursue rent withholding, rent reduction, or repair-and-deduct remedies as recognized by New Jersey courts.
Truth in Renting Act (N.J.S.A. 46:8-43 et seq.): Landlords of buildings with two or more units must provide every tenant with a copy of the state-issued Truth in Renting statement at the start of the tenancy. This document summarizes tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities. Failure to provide it is a violation of state law.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.10): A landlord may not increase rent, decrease services, or pursue eviction in retaliation against a tenant who has complained to a government agency, organized other tenants, or exercised any legal right. A court may presume retaliation if adverse action occurs within 90 days of a protected activity.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1 et seq.; N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.6): Self-help eviction — including changing locks, removing doors, or shutting off utilities to force a tenant out — is illegal in New Jersey. Only a court-issued warrant of removal, enforced by a Special Civil Part Officer, can lawfully remove a tenant. Landlords who engage in self-help eviction can face civil liability.
Notice Requirements for Month-to-Month Tenancies (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-56): To terminate a month-to-month tenancy, either the landlord or tenant must provide at least one full rental period of written notice. For most tenants, this means 30 days' notice delivered before the next rent due date.
New Jersey's Security Deposit Law (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 through 46:8-26) governs all aspects of security deposits for Haddonfield rentals.
Deposit Cap: For most residential tenancies, the initial security deposit may not exceed one and one-half months' rent. Annual increases to the deposit are limited to 10% of the current deposit amount (N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.2).
Holding Requirements: Landlords with six or more units must place the deposit in an interest-bearing account at a New Jersey bank or invest it in qualifying securities, and must notify the tenant in writing of the institution and account number within 30 days of receipt (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19). Landlords of five or fewer units have somewhat different investment options but still owe annual interest or credit.
Return Deadline: After a tenancy ends, the landlord must return the security deposit (plus accrued interest), along with an itemized written statement of any deductions, within 30 days of the tenant's departure or the end of the lease — whichever is later (N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1). If the tenancy ended because of fire, flood, or condemnation, the return deadline is shortened to five days.
Penalty for Non-Compliance: A landlord who wrongfully withholds all or part of the security deposit without providing a proper itemized statement within the required deadline is liable to the tenant for double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees, under N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1. Tenants should document their move-out condition with photos and provide a forwarding address in writing to protect this right.
New Jersey's Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1 et seq.) requires that a landlord have a legally recognized just cause before filing to evict any residential tenant. This is one of the strongest tenant protections in the country and fully applies to Haddonfield rentals.
Just Cause Grounds (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1): The Act lists 18 specific grounds for eviction, including: non-payment of rent; disorderly conduct; willful destruction of property; violation of a lease term after written notice and a reasonable opportunity to cure; conviction of certain crimes on the premises; and termination of a tenancy at will with proper notice. Landlords wishing to personally occupy or substantially redevelop the unit may also qualify under limited grounds with additional notice requirements.
Notice Requirements: Before filing in court, a landlord must serve the tenant with the appropriate written notice, which varies by ground:
Court Process: Eviction cases are filed in the Special Civil Part of the New Jersey Superior Court for Camden County (located in Camden). The landlord files a complaint, the tenant is served, and a hearing is typically scheduled within days to weeks. Tenants have the right to appear, present a defense, and seek an adjournment to obtain legal counsel. If the court rules for the landlord, it issues a judgment for possession.
Warrant of Removal: After judgment, the court issues a warrant of removal. A Special Civil Part Officer — not the landlord — carries out the removal. There is a mandatory three-day lockout delay after the warrant issues, giving tenants a final window to vacate voluntarily or file an emergent motion to stay removal (N.J. Court Rules R. 6:7-1).
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: A landlord who changes the locks, removes a tenant's belongings, shuts off utilities, or otherwise attempts to force a tenant out without a court order violates N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1 et seq. and may be liable for damages. Tenants subjected to self-help eviction may seek emergency relief in Superior Court.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws are complex, subject to change, and may be interpreted differently depending on your specific facts and circumstances. Statutes cited were current as of April 2026, but laws may have been amended since publication. Renters with specific legal questions or problems should consult a licensed New Jersey attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and no attorney-client relationship is created by your use of this site.
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