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July 15, 2020 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

This Thursday, July 16, 2020, the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee will be considering the bill with a Senate Number of S250 and an Assembly Number of A1919. This bill establishes the “Fair Chance in Housing Act.”

By Jennifer L. Alexander, Esq. July 6, 2020 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

On June 30, 2020, New York Governor signed the “Tenant Safe Harbor Act” (a.k.a. the “Hoylman Bill”) into law. This law not only extends the current eviction moratorium for New Yorkers, but it strengthens it as well. The Tenant Safe Harbor Act prevents courts from issuing warrants of eviction or judgments of possession under certain circumstances. The court cannot issue a warrant or judgment if: it would be for non-payment of rent that accrued or came due during the COVID‑19 period, and it would be against a residential tenant or lawful occupant who has suffered a financial hardship during the “COVID‑19 covered period.”

By Jennifer L. Alexander, Esq. July 1, 2020 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

Governor Phil Murphy has vetoed five proposed Coronavirus. The vetoed bills were designed to assist to families and small business suffering from COVID-19 related hardships. Among these vetoed bills was S-2332/A-3956. This bill was discussed in our prior blog, which can be found here.

By Jennifer L. Alexander, Esq. June 29, 2020 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

Per Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s Executive Order, Landlord Tenant matters will begin processing on July 11th, 2020.  

On May 11th, the Governor stayed all Notice Requirements mandated by the Landlord and Tenant At of 1951 and the Manufactured Home Community Rights Act for 60 days. This action tolled the ability to commence the timelines necessary for the initiation of eviction proceedings. Per the order, all eviction timelines must be computed with a start date of July 10th, 2020, at which point any previously delivered Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 and Manufactured Home Community Rights Act notices will be deemed delivered and any eviction proceedings may commence. The eviction proceedings requiring compliance with the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 and the Manufactured Home Community Rights Act may proceed from that point forward in the normal course of action.

By Jennifer L. Alexander, Esq. May 15, 2020 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

The Assembly and the Senate have unanimously passed a bill that creates the “2020 New Jersey Emergency Rental Assistance Program.” The bill is entitled S-2332/A-3956. Our office previously posted a blog about the date that this was passed unanimously in the Assembly and Senate, as it was a large calendar for the Legislature filled with COVID-19 related bills. You can read our prior blog below.

https://www.lawgapc.com/blog/important-updates-to-new-jersey-community-association-and-landlord-tenant-law/

By Jennifer L. Alexander, Esq. May 14, 2020 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 health pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo issued Executive Order Number 202.28 on May 7, 2020.  As per the terms of the Executive Order, the state’s eviction and foreclosure moratorium was extended sixty (60) days beginning on June 20, 2020 and will expire on August 20, 2020.  During this time period, no eviction or foreclosure action may be initiated or resumed for nonpayment of rental or mortgage payments, by someone that is eligible for unemployment insurance or benefits under state or federal law or otherwise facing financial hardship due to COVID-19.  In addition, the moratorium on evictions against those who have financial hardship because of COVID-19 will be delayed through August 20.  This leaves the question open as to whether the Courts will process warrants for eviction to execute against tenants against whom a landlord had a judgment prior to the pandemic after the original June 20 moratorium deadline.  Furthermore, from March 20, 2020 through August 20, 2020, no landlord can demand or be entitled to a late fee payment for a tenant’s late payment of his/her rent.  Despite mounting pressure to do so, Governor Cuomo did not go as far as to cancel rent outright. 

By Jennifer L. Alexander, Esq. April 27, 2020 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

We hope everyone is doing well and staying safe in these troubling and difficult times. On April 24, 2020, Governor Murphy signed a new executive order that will provide much-needed relief to both landlords and tenants. Many landlords have been seeking solutions to assist their tenants with lagging income streams as a result of the COVID‑19 pandemic. Some landlords have further contemplated the legal consequences of utilizing a tenant’s security deposit in lieu of rent. Executive Order No. 128 creates a fix for this ongoing problem.

By Jennifer L. Alexander, Esq. April 15, 2020 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

In a recent unpublished case, Canales v. Yu, N.J. Super. App. Div. (per curiam), a landlord/tenant dispute that started out with the landlord not returning a security deposit ended with the landlord receiving an award covering only a small fraction of the damage incurred, with no costs or expenses. The Plaintiff and Third-Party Defendants (collectively, Tenants) rented the first floor of a residential property owned by the Defendant (Landlord). Issues arose as the landlord alleged the tenants damaged the property and the tenants claimed that the landlord failed to make requested repairs, which resulted in the tenants agreeing to vacate the property. The landlord stated that she was not going to return their security deposit because the property had been damaged.

By Jennifer L. Alexander, Esq. April 14, 2020 Posted in Community Association Law, Landlord/Tenant Law Share

Yesterday was a heavy calendar for the Senate and Assembly. A number of impactful bills were up for consideration. Our office is providing you an update on bills relevant to you. Many of these bills were considered in the Assembly and the Senate simultaneously yesterday. They would provide relief for New Jersey residents and businesses due to the COVID‑19 pandemic. Please see the bullet-point summary of the bills that were up for consideration yesterday: