Details on COVID-19 Eviction Moratorium in New Jersey

09 Nov Details on COVID-19 Eviction Moratorium in New Jersey

COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the people of New Jersey. In addition to looming illness, business closures caused many individuals to not lose their jobs, while school closures forced many parents to choose their child’s education over a steady paycheck. It was only a matter of time before the financial hardships facing the people of New Jersey led to residential evictions. Thankfully, the State of New Jersey implemented legal protections that some may be surprised to learn, are still in place.

Does the Supreme Court’s Decision Affect My Rights?

On August 3, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a federal Order that halted evictions in areas experiencing high COVID-19 transmission rates. Unfortunately for renters, that federal eviction order soon ended following a United States Supreme Court’s decision on August 26, 2021. Still, the decision did not extend to the tenant protections enacted at the state or local level. Therefore, the New Jersey eviction moratorium remains in effect through the end of 2021. What sort of renter protections will remain in place beyond December 31, 2021 remains unclear.
Protections Offered for New Jersey Tenants

Renters who qualify for moderate, low, or very-low income are protected from eviction due to nonpayment of rent through December 31, 2021, provided they have certified their hardship and income level and have applied for rental assistance. These renters are also protected from utility shutoffs that can effectively make their homes unlivable.

Those who lived in a household in New Jersey with an income less than 120 percent of their county’s Area Median income were permanently protected from eviction or removal any time between March 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021, for any of the following reasons:

● Nonpayment of rent
● Habitually late rent payment
● Failure to accept a rent increase that occurred during this period

Depending on your specific circumstances and the income level of your household, you may still be eligible for protection from eviction or removal through the end of 2021, as well as other services and assistance.

Does This Mean New Jersey Tenants No Longer Have to Pay Rent?

The law as it stands now does insulate renters from paying for rent or utilities indefinitely. Landlords may still file a civil claim to pursue the rent payment. However, they cannot evict you for failure to pay if you have applied and demonstrated compliance with the state’s ban on evictions..

Standing Up for NJ Tenants for More Than Half a Century

For the last several decades, the boutique law firm of Greenblatt, Lieberman, Richards & Weishoff, LLC has taken on all matters related to landlord-tenant law and tenant evictions in the state of New Jersey. We know exactly what a landlord can and cannot do when it comes to evicting tenants, and our experienced team of eviction lawyers are dedicated to uphold the rights of tenants experiencing financial hardship in the aftermath of COVID-19.
Book a Confidential Case Review Today

If you have questions about the COVID-19 eviction moratorium in New Jersey, call New Jersey Eviction Law today to schedule a confidential consultation where we can explain your legal rights in as they pertain to the New Jersey law.