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Hazlet Township is a residential community of approximately 20,000 residents in Monmouth County, New Jersey. A significant portion of Hazlet households rent, and renters in this township are covered by some of the strongest statewide tenant protections in the United States — including a mandatory just-cause eviction standard, strict security deposit rules, and robust anti-retaliation law.
Unlike larger New Jersey cities such as Newark or Jersey City, Hazlet has not enacted any local rent control or additional tenant ordinances. This means renters here rely entirely on state law — primarily the Truth in Renting Act (N.J.S.A. 46:8-43 et seq.), the Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1 et seq.), the Security Deposit Law (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 et seq.), and the Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law (N.J.S.A. 55:13A-1 et seq.) — for their core protections.
This article summarizes how those state laws apply to Hazlet renters in plain language. It is informational only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific dispute with your landlord, consult a qualified New Jersey attorney or contact a local legal aid organization.
Hazlet Township has no rent control ordinance. Unlike New Jersey cities such as Hoboken, Newark, and Jersey City — which have enacted local rent stabilization laws — Hazlet has not passed any ordinance limiting how much a landlord may increase rent.
Importantly, New Jersey does not have a statewide statute that preempts municipalities from enacting rent control; the decision is left to each local government. Hazlet's governing body has simply chosen not to adopt such a measure. As a result, a Hazlet landlord may raise rent by any amount, at any time, provided they give the legally required advance notice (generally one rental period for a month-to-month tenancy) and comply with any lease terms that restrict mid-lease increases.
In practice, this means Hazlet renters have no cap on rent increases and no right to challenge a rent hike as excessive under local law. Your best protection against unexpected increases is to negotiate a fixed-term lease with a clearly defined renewal clause, and to understand your right to vacate without penalty if you receive notice of an unacceptable increase.
Implied Warranty of Habitability (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-85 et seq. & common law): New Jersey landlords must maintain rental units in a habitable condition throughout the tenancy. This includes working heat, plumbing, electricity, and freedom from conditions that endanger health or safety. Tenants who discover habitability defects may pursue remedies including rent withholding, rent reduction, or repair-and-deduct under court supervision.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.10 & 2A:42-10.12): A landlord may not raise rent, reduce services, threaten eviction, or otherwise retaliate against a tenant for reporting code violations, contacting a government agency, or organizing with other tenants. If a landlord takes adverse action within 90 days of a protected activity, retaliation is presumed and the burden shifts to the landlord to prove a legitimate reason.
Notice Requirements (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-56): To terminate a month-to-month tenancy, either party must give at least one full rental period of written notice. For a fixed-term lease, the lease terms govern; the landlord need not renew but must still have just cause to evict during the term.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1 et seq. & N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.10): Self-help eviction is illegal in New Jersey. A landlord who changes locks, removes doors or windows, or intentionally shuts off utilities to force a tenant out may face civil liability and criminal charges. Tenants subjected to such conduct may seek emergency court relief and damages.
Truth in Renting Act (N.J.S.A. 46:8-43 et seq.): Landlords of buildings with more than two units must provide tenants with a copy of the state-issued Truth in Renting statement, which summarizes tenant and landlord rights. Failure to provide this document does not void a lease but is an administrative violation.
Lead Paint Disclosure (N.J.S.A. 55:13A-7.7 & N.J.A.C. 5:28A): Landlords must disclose known lead-based paint hazards and, for pre-1978 housing, comply with federal disclosure requirements (42 U.S.C. § 4852d). New Jersey also requires periodic visual inspections in older rental units.
Statutory Cap (N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.2): For the initial collection, a New Jersey landlord may collect no more than one and one-half months' rent as a security deposit. Annual increases are limited to 10% of the current deposit amount per year.
Investment Requirement (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19): Landlords who hold security deposits from tenants in buildings with more than 10 units must deposit the funds in a federally insured interest-bearing account or invest them in certain securities. Landlords of smaller buildings must also hold deposits in a separate account. Within 30 days of receiving the deposit, the landlord must notify the tenant in writing of the name and address of the bank, the account number, the amount deposited, and the current interest rate.
Return Deadline (N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1): After the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the security deposit — plus any accrued interest — within 30 days. If the tenant gave written notice of their intent to vacate at least 30 days in advance, the deadline is shortened to 15 days after the tenancy ends. The return must be accompanied by an itemized written statement of any deductions.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding (N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1): If a landlord fails to return the deposit within the required period without lawful justification, the tenant may sue and recover double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. Deductions are permitted only for unpaid rent and actual damage beyond normal wear and tear.
Just-Cause Requirement (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1): New Jersey's Anti-Eviction Act requires that a landlord have a specific statutory reason — called just cause — before filing to evict a residential tenant. Recognized grounds include non-payment of rent, habitual late payment, disorderly conduct, willful property damage, breach of lease, continued violations after written notice, and certain no-fault grounds such as owner-occupancy (with additional requirements). A landlord who simply wants a tenant out without a qualifying ground cannot obtain a valid eviction judgment.
Notice Requirements: The type and duration of required notice depend on the ground for eviction. For non-payment of rent, the landlord must serve a written Notice to Quit and Demand for Possession giving at least three business days to pay or vacate (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.2). For lease violations other than non-payment, the landlord must typically provide a one-month cure notice before filing. Month-to-month tenancies require at least one full rental period of notice for no-fault terminations where permitted.
Court Filing and Hearing (N.J. Court Rules, Part V): After the notice period expires, the landlord must file a Landlord-Tenant complaint in the Special Civil Part of the New Jersey Superior Court for Monmouth County. Both parties receive a hearing date, usually within a few weeks of filing. Tenants have the right to appear, present defenses, and request an adjournment for good cause. A judgment for possession is required before any eviction can proceed.
Warrant for Removal: If the court enters judgment for the landlord, a Warrant for Removal is issued after a three-business-day stay (or longer in some circumstances). A court officer — not the landlord — executes the removal. Tenants may apply to the court to stay the warrant based on hardship.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal (N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1 et seq.): A landlord who attempts to remove a tenant without a court order by changing locks, removing belongings, or cutting off utilities commits an illegal act. Affected tenants can seek an emergency order of re-entry and may recover compensatory and punitive damages.
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The laws summarized here were accurate as of April 2026 but may have changed; statutes, regulations, and local ordinances are subject to amendment at any time. Every tenancy situation is different, and the application of law to specific facts requires professional judgment. If you have a dispute with your landlord or need guidance about your rights, please consult a licensed New Jersey attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in Monmouth County. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and no attorney-client relationship is created by using this site.
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