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Ringwood, New Jersey is a borough of approximately 12,000 residents nestled in the Ramapo Mountains of Passaic County. While it is a smaller, predominantly residential community, renters in Ringwood benefit from some of the most comprehensive statewide tenant protections in the United States, enacted through the New Jersey Truth in Renting Act, the Security Deposit Law, and the Anti-Eviction Act.
Ringwood has not enacted any local rent control ordinance, so landlords may raise rents without a legal cap — subject only to the lease terms and required notice periods. However, state law strictly governs evictions, security deposit handling, habitability standards, and retaliation protections, giving Ringwood tenants meaningful rights regardless of what their lease says.
This article is intended as general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws and local rules can change; renters facing a specific dispute should consult a licensed New Jersey attorney or contact a local legal aid organization.
Ringwood has no rent control ordinance. New Jersey state law does not preempt municipalities from enacting rent control — in fact, many NJ cities (such as Newark, Jersey City, and Trenton) have adopted local rent stabilization ordinances. Ringwood, however, has not enacted any such ordinance, meaning there is no legal ceiling on how much a landlord can charge or increase rent in the borough.
In practical terms, a Ringwood landlord may raise the rent at the end of a lease term by any amount, or during a month-to-month tenancy with at least one month's written notice under N.J.S.A. 2A:18-56. There is no requirement that rent increases be tied to the Consumer Price Index or any other benchmark. Tenants who feel a rent increase is retaliatory may have recourse under the New Jersey anti-retaliation statute (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.10), but a mere increase — however large — is not itself illegal in Ringwood.
New Jersey's landlord-tenant statutes provide a robust baseline of protections for all Ringwood renters. Key protections include:
Implied Warranty of Habitability (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-85 through 2A:42-96): Landlords must maintain rental units in a safe, habitable condition, including adequate heat, hot water, structurally sound premises, and freedom from pest infestations. If a landlord fails to make necessary repairs after written notice, tenants may pursue rent withholding, rent reduction, or repair-and-deduct remedies through the courts.
Security Deposit Law (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 through 46:8-26): Landlords may collect a security deposit of no more than one and one-half times one month's rent. The deposit must be held in a separate interest-bearing account at a New Jersey financial institution, and tenants must be notified of the bank and account number within 30 days of receiving the deposit.
Notice Requirements (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-56): To terminate a month-to-month tenancy, a landlord must provide at least one full month's written notice prior to the termination date.
Anti-Retaliation Protections (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.10 through 2A:42-10.14): A landlord may not evict, raise the rent, or reduce services in retaliation against a tenant who reports housing code violations, contacts a government agency, or exercises any legal right. A retaliatory action within 90 days of a protected tenant activity is presumed retaliatory.
Prohibition on Lockouts and Utility Shutoffs (N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1; N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.10): Self-help eviction is illegal in New Jersey. A landlord may not remove a tenant by changing the locks, removing doors or windows, or shutting off utilities. Only a court order and a Sheriff's officer may lawfully remove a tenant.
Truth in Renting Act (N.J.S.A. 46:8-43 through 46:8-51): Landlords of buildings with more than two units must provide tenants with the official New Jersey Truth in Renting statement at the start of the tenancy, summarizing tenant rights.
New Jersey's Security Deposit Law (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 through 46:8-26) governs all aspects of security deposits for Ringwood renters.
Deposit Cap: A landlord may not collect more than one and one-half (1.5) times one month's rent as a security deposit. Subsequent annual increases are capped at 10% of the current deposit amount (N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.2).
Holding Requirements: The deposit must be placed in a separate interest-bearing account at a New Jersey-licensed financial institution. Within 30 days of receipt, the landlord must notify the tenant in writing of the name and address of the bank and the account number (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19).
Return Deadline: Within 30 days after the tenant vacates, the landlord must return the deposit plus accrued interest, minus any lawful deductions, along with an itemized written statement of any deductions. In cases of fire, flood, or other weather-related emergency that forces the tenant to vacate, the deadline is reduced to 5 days (N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1).
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If a landlord fails to return the deposit within the required period, or wrongfully withholds any portion, the tenant is entitled to double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees and court costs (N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1). Tenants may file suit in New Jersey Special Civil Part (Small Claims) court for amounts under $5,000.
All residential evictions in Ringwood are governed by the New Jersey Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1 et seq.), which requires a landlord to have legal just cause before removing any residential tenant.
Grounds for Eviction (Just Cause): Permissible grounds include nonpayment of rent, disorderly conduct, substantial damage to the property, violation of a lease term (after written notice to cure), conviction of certain drug crimes on the premises, and refusal to accept reasonable rent increases, among others (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1).
Notice Requirements:
Court Process: After the notice period expires, if the tenant remains, the landlord must file a complaint in the Landlord-Tenant Section of the New Jersey Superior Court, Special Civil Part, in Passaic County. A hearing date will be scheduled, typically within a few weeks. Both parties may appear and present evidence (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-53 through 2A:18-61.4).
Warrant for Removal: If the court rules in favor of the landlord, a judgment for possession is entered. A warrant for removal is issued, and only a Passaic County Sheriff's officer may execute it, giving the tenant typically 3 business days' notice before lockout.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: A landlord may not remove a tenant by changing locks, removing belongings, shutting off utilities, or any other self-help means. Doing so violates N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1 and N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.10 and may expose the landlord to civil liability. A tenant who is illegally locked out may seek an emergency court order to be restored to possession.
The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws and local ordinances can change, and the specific facts of your situation may affect how the law applies to you. Ringwood renters with legal questions or facing an eviction, deposit dispute, or habitability issue should consult a licensed New Jersey attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization such as Legal Services of Northwest Jersey. RentCheckMe makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this information and is not responsible for actions taken in reliance on it.
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