New Protections for Tenants: What You Need to Know
Yesterday, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law new eviction protections for tenants who were directly impacted by the pandemic. This legislation provides that New Jersey’s eviction moratorium continues through August for all state residents with household incomes below 120% Area Medium Income (AMI) and through the end of the year for certain households with incomes below 80% AMI.
Tuesday’s announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extending the nationwide moratorium on evictions for 60 days may provide additional protections for certain residents.
Said Murphy, “We have heard the continuing calls for help from New Jerseyans who are struggling to pay their rent and utilities. COVID-19 has put tenants and landlords in a difficult place, and I am pleased to say that more assistance is on the way. This bill is going to direct money to the people and programs that need it most. Housing and access to utilities are fundamental to human health and safety and we want to ensure that as many eligible applicants impacted by the pandemic get the help they need during this challenging time.”
Eviction Protection
Under the new law, renters with annual household incomes below 80% of Hudson County’s AMI cannot be evicted before Dec. 31, 2021. Those renters below 120% of AMI cannot be evicted before Aug. 31, 2021. (Renters living outside of Hudson County will be subject to their county’s AMI.)
Renters wanting these protections must complete the Income Self-Certification Form available at https://covid19.nj.gov/renter, through which they will certify their income level. The Form also asks you to certify whether you had an economic impact from COVID-19, certify whether you have applied for rental assistance, and answer some additional questions, all of which will assist the government in providing you with assistance.
To access the form as Frequently Asked Questions, go here. If you need help filling out the form or don’t have access to a computer, call 609-490-4550.
Rental Assistance
In addition to protection from evictions, there is rental assistance for those making 120% or less of your county’s median income. To see if you are eligible and to apply, go here.
Additionally, both Hudson County and Jersey City have rental assistance programs.
- Hudson County: https://hudsoncounty.smapply.io/prog/hudson_county_emergency_rental_assistance_2/
- Jersey City: https://jerseycitynj.gov/cityhall/housinganddevelopment/communitydevelopment/covid19hardshipassistanceprogram
Legal Help
If your landlord has begun an eviction case or you think he/she may do so, you should consult with an attorney. The following legal resources are available to those who qualify.
- Hudson County Legal Services: 201 792-6363
- LSNJ Law: 1-888-LSNJ-LAW
- The Waterfront Project: 551-256-7578
