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Pemberton, located in Burlington County in central New Jersey, encompasses both Pemberton Borough and portions of Pemberton Township. The area is home to a mix of working-class renters, military families connected to nearby Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, and long-term residents who rely on affordable rental housing. Like all New Jersey municipalities, Pemberton renters benefit from some of the strongest statewide tenant protections in the United States.
New Jersey's landlord-tenant laws — particularly the Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1), the Security Deposit Law (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 et seq.), and the Truth in Renting Act (N.J.S.A. 46:8-43 et seq.) — apply directly to Pemberton tenants and provide substantial protections around eviction, deposits, habitability, and retaliation. Pemberton itself has not enacted any local rent control or additional tenant ordinances beyond what the state mandates.
This page summarizes the laws most relevant to Pemberton renters and is intended for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. If you have a specific legal issue, contact a licensed New Jersey attorney or a local legal aid organization for guidance tailored to your situation.
Pemberton has no rent control ordinance. Unlike cities such as Newark, Trenton, or Jersey City, Pemberton Borough and Pemberton Township have not passed any local law limiting rent increases. New Jersey does not preempt municipalities from enacting rent control — in fact, the state's Rent Leveling and Control enabling authority under N.J.S.A. 40:48-2 explicitly permits municipalities to regulate rents — but Pemberton has simply chosen not to do so.
In practice, this means a Pemberton landlord may raise your rent by any amount at the end of a lease term or, for month-to-month tenants, with proper advance notice. There is no cap on percentage increases, no requirement to justify the amount, and no rent board to appeal to. Your only substantive protection is the requirement that the landlord still must have just cause to evict you under the Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1) — meaning a landlord cannot evict you simply for refusing to pay an unreasonable increase if you are otherwise current on the lawful rent.
Tenants concerned about significant rent increases should review their lease carefully, seek advice from Legal Services of New Jersey, and monitor whether Pemberton ever adopts a rent control ordinance in the future.
New Jersey's statewide landlord-tenant statutes provide Pemberton renters with robust baseline protections across several key areas:
Warranty of Habitability (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-85 et seq. & common law): Every residential landlord in New Jersey must maintain the rental unit in a safe, sanitary, and habitable condition. This includes functioning heat, plumbing, hot water, structural integrity, and freedom from pest infestation. If a landlord fails to make required repairs after notice, tenants may pursue rent withholding, rent abatement, or repair-and-deduct remedies through New Jersey courts.
Security Deposit Rules (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 et seq.): Landlords may collect a maximum security deposit of one and one-half months' rent. The deposit must be held in a separate interest-bearing bank account, and the tenant must be notified of the institution and account within 30 days of receiving the deposit. Annual interest must be credited to the tenant.
Notice Requirements (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-56): For a month-to-month tenancy, a landlord must provide at least one month's written notice before terminating the tenancy. For a week-to-week tenancy, seven days' notice is required. These are minimum requirements; a lease may provide for longer notice periods.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.10 et seq.): A landlord may not increase rent, decrease services, or pursue eviction in retaliation for a tenant reporting housing code violations to government authorities, organizing a tenants' union, or exercising any other legal right. If a landlord takes adverse action within 90 days of such protected activity, retaliation is legally presumed, and the tenant may raise it as a defense in eviction proceedings or sue for damages.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1 et seq.): Self-help evictions are illegal in New Jersey. A landlord may not remove a tenant's belongings, change locks, or shut off utilities to force a tenant out. A landlord who engages in self-help eviction may face civil liability and criminal charges. The only lawful eviction method is through the Superior Court, Special Civil Part.
Truth in Renting Act (N.J.S.A. 46:8-43 et seq.): Landlords of buildings with more than two units must provide new tenants with a copy of the state's official Truth in Renting statement, which summarizes tenant rights and responsibilities. Failure to provide this document does not void the lease but may be relevant in legal proceedings.
New Jersey's Security Deposit Law (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 through 46:8-26) governs every residential security deposit in Pemberton.
Maximum Amount: A landlord may not collect more than one and one-half (1.5) months' rent as a security deposit at the start of tenancy. Subsequent annual increases to the deposit are limited to 10% of the current deposit amount.
Holding Requirements: The deposit must be deposited within 30 days into a separate, interest-bearing account at a New Jersey bank or savings institution. The landlord must notify the tenant in writing of the name and address of the institution and the account number within 30 days of receiving the funds. Interest earned must be paid annually to the tenant or credited toward rent.
Return Deadline: After the lease ends, the landlord must return the deposit — along with accrued interest — and an itemized written statement of any deductions, within 30 days of the termination of tenancy or the tenant providing a forwarding address, whichever is later (N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1).
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If a landlord fails to return the deposit or provide the itemized statement within the required timeframe without justification, the tenant is entitled to double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus court costs and attorney's fees. Tenants may bring this claim in New Jersey Small Claims Court (Special Civil Part) for amounts up to $5,000, or in the regular Special Civil Part for larger amounts.
Permissible Deductions: Landlords may deduct for unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, and other charges specifically authorized by the lease. Routine wear and tear — such as minor scuffs on walls or carpet worn from normal use — is not a valid basis for deduction.
New Jersey's Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1 et seq.) is one of the most tenant-protective eviction statutes in the nation and applies fully to Pemberton renters. A landlord must have a legally recognized just-cause ground to evict a residential tenant.
Just-Cause Grounds: The Act lists 18 specific grounds for eviction, including: nonpayment of rent; habitual late payment; disorderly conduct; destruction of property; violation of a lease term after notice to cure; refusal to accept a rent increase that is not unconscionable; illegal drug activity on the premises; and, in certain circumstances, owner or immediate family member occupancy. A landlord who cannot establish one of these grounds cannot obtain an eviction judgment regardless of whether the lease has expired.
Required Notices Before Filing:
Court Process: All evictions in New Jersey must be filed in the Superior Court, Special Civil Part — Landlord-Tenant Section for Burlington County, located at the Burlington County Courthouse in Mount Holly. The landlord files a Complaint for Possession, the tenant is served with a summons, and a hearing is typically scheduled within two to four weeks. Tenants have the right to appear, present defenses, and be represented by an attorney.
Warrant for Removal: If the court rules for the landlord, a Judgment for Possession is entered. The landlord must then apply for a Warrant for Removal, which is served by a court officer. The tenant typically has three business days after service of the warrant before the lock-out can occur, though this period may vary.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: A landlord may never lock out a tenant, remove belongings, shut off utilities, or otherwise force a tenant out without a court-issued Warrant for Removal executed by an authorized court officer. Self-help eviction exposes the landlord to civil liability under N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1 et seq. and potential criminal charges. A tenant who is illegally locked out may seek emergency relief from the court to be restored to possession.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws, local ordinances, and court procedures can change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. Pemberton renters with legal questions should consult a licensed New Jersey attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization such as Legal Services of New Jersey. RentCheckMe makes no representations as to the completeness or current accuracy of the information provided, and renters should independently verify all statutes and regulations before taking action.
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