New Jersey Landlord Notice of Nonrenewal

NEW JERSEY LANDLORD NOTICE OF NONRENEWAL

1. Classification-First Legal Gate

For housing covered by New Jersey's Anti-Eviction Act, a landlord generally may not refuse to continue the tenancy without statutory good cause. N.J. Stat. § 2A:18-61.1(i) addresses refusal, after written notice, to accept reasonable substantive lease changes proposed at termination; subsection (f) addresses a valid, non-unconscionable, otherwise lawful rent increase. The DCA's lease bulletin says covered landlords must allow renewal absent good cause. Do not issue a no-cause nonrenewal for covered housing. Check the current statute's coverage and exceptions; the bulletin is dated May 2010.

• ☐ Anti-Eviction Act coverage and every claimed exception documented
• ☐ Specific statutory good cause selected and required predicate notices completed
• ☐ Proposed replacement terms are reasonable, written, and timely
• ☐ Municipal rent control, Truth in Renting, and local notice rules checked
• ☐ Subsidized, mobile-home, senior/disabled, and conversion protections checked

2. Tenancy and Coverage Record

If any answer is uncertain, stop and obtain legal review before serving the notice.

3. Notice-Date Calculation

• Date notice will be served: [__/__/____]
• Proposed legal basis: ☐ fixed-term expiration at documented exempt premises ☐ periodic termination at documented exempt premises ☐ statutory good cause ☐ other: [________]
• Proposed termination/nonrenewal date: [__/__/____]
• Date is the correct rental-period or lease-end date: ☐ Yes
• Minimum legal/lease notice expires before that date: ☐ Yes
• Mailing, posting, receipt, or service extension added: ☐ Yes ☐ Not applicable
• Prescribed notice, cause statement, relocation payment, or agency filing required: ☐ No ☐ Yes — attached/completed

Calculation record: [____________________________________________________________]

4. Notice to Tenant

Date: [__/__/____]

To tenant(s): [FULL LEGAL NAME(S)]

Premises: [STREET, UNIT, CITY, NEW JERSEY ZIP]

From landlord/authorized agent: [FULL LEGAL NAME AND NOTICE ADDRESS]

NOTICE OF NONRENEWAL AND, IF APPLICABLE, TERMINATION

The landlord gives notice of intent to terminate the tenancy on [__/__/____] under the checked and documented legal basis below. If the Anti-Eviction Act covers the Premises, the end of a lease alone does not require you to leave; a statutory ground and the applicable notice requirements control.

• ☐ Fixed-term nonrenewal at exempt premises only. Section 5 identifies the documented Anti-Eviction Act exemption and any other applicable exemption. The written lease expires on [__/__/____]; the landlord does not offer a new term.
• ☐ Periodic-tenancy termination at exempt premises only. Section 5 identifies the documented exemptions. The landlord seeks to terminate the periodic tenancy on [__/__/____] under [STATUTE / LEASE / ORDINANCE].
• ☐ Statutory good-cause termination. Section 5 states the specific statutory ground and supporting facts; all required notices and attachments are included.
• ☐ Other lawful structure: [____________________________________________________________]

The landlord requests that you deliver possession and return access devices by [TIME] on [__/__/____]. If you remain, the landlord must obtain a court judgment and follow the lawful removal process before requiring you to leave.

This notice does not demand payment, allege a lease default, waive any right, authorize self-help, or itself permit removal of an occupant. Any possession proceeding must follow controlling law.

5. Cause, Exemption, and Required Addenda

Complete this section even when counsel concludes that no cause statement is required.

• Just-cause/good-cause law applies: ☐ No — basis: [________________] ☐ Yes
• Statutory or local exemption claimed: [________________________________]
• Required exemption disclosure was timely given: ☐ Yes ☐ Not applicable
• Lawful cause category: [________________________________]
• Specific supporting facts, dates, people, permits, or orders:

[____________________________________________________________]

[____________________________________________________________]

• Cure or pre-notice required before this notice: ☐ No ☐ Yes — completed [__/__/____]
• Relocation assistance / rent waiver required: ☐ No ☐ Yes — amount $[________], provided [__/__/____]
• Prescribed state/local notice attached: ☐ No ☐ Yes: [________________]
• Filing or copy to agency required: ☐ No ☐ Yes — completed [__/__/____]
• Re-rental, owner-occupancy, withdrawal, or follow-through duty calendared: ☐ Yes ☐ Not applicable

Do not use vague labels where the controlling law requires detailed facts or prescribed text.

6. Move-Out Logistics

• Keys/access devices returned to: [________________________________]
• Optional inspection information: [________________________________]
• Forwarding address may be sent to: [________________________________]
• Utility-transfer instructions: [________________________________]
• Property-removal instructions: [________________________________]

The security deposit and any personal property left behind will be handled under controlling law. This notice does not predetermine deductions, waive itemization requirements, or authorize disposal.

7. Fair-Housing, Retaliation, and Accommodation Review

Subject to coverage and exemptions, 42 U.S.C. § 3604 prohibits specified discrimination in rental availability, terms, statements, and disability-related accommodations. State and local law may protect additional classes and conduct.

• Decision is supported by a documented lawful, nondiscriminatory reason: ☐ Yes
• Recent repair, code, organizing, legal-aid, or rights-enforcement activity reviewed for retaliation: ☐ Yes
• Pending disability accommodation/modification request identified and handled: ☐ Yes ☐ None known
• Selective enforcement and comparator review completed: ☐ Yes
• Counsel approved service despite any retaliation or accommodation risk: ☐ Yes ☐ Not required after review

8. Service and Proof

Use only a method permitted for this notice.

• Person(s) served: [________________________________]
• Service address: [________________________________]
• Method (confirm the method for the selected ground): ☐ personal delivery ☐ left at the usual abode with a family member over age 14 ☐ certified mail; if unclaimed, regular-mail follow-up sent on [__/__/____] ☐ other method confirmed by counsel: [________]
• Date/time served: [__/__/____] [____]
• Date legally deemed given/received: [__/__/____]
• Server/tracking/witness: [________________________________]
• Copy, attachments, proof, and calculation retained: ☐ Yes

9. Landlord / Agent Signature

I certify that I reviewed the classification and coverage record, that the factual entries are accurate to the best of my knowledge, and that all legally required attachments identified above are included.

10. Proof of Service Declaration

I declare that I served the complete notice and all listed attachments as recorded in Section 8.

Sources and References

• N.J. Stat. § 2A:18-61.1: https://www.nj.gov/dca/codes/codreg/pdf_regs/2A_18_61.pdf
• New Jersey DCA Lease Information Bulletin: https://www.nj.gov/dca/codes/publications/pdf_lti/lease.pdf
• New Jersey DCA Truth in Renting guide: https://www.nj.gov/dca/codes/publications/pdf_lti/t_i_r.pdf
• 42 U.S.C. § 3604: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2024-title42/USCODE-2024-title42-chap45-subchapI-sec3604

Have a lawyer licensed in New Jersey review the completed notice, lease, service calculation, coverage analysis, and all attachments before use.