Samantha Impaglia 
On Wednesday, April 2nd, the Hoboken City Council unanimously passed a new rent control ordinance in Hoboken that aims to increase transparency and protect tenants. Under the new law, Hoboken landlords who are increasing rent by more than 10% must disclose certain information with tenants — including an itemized breakdown of costs associated with the increase, among other things. Read on for more about this new rent control ordinance in Hoboken, New Jersey.
What is the New Rent Control Ordinance in Hoboken?
Hoboken landlords are now required to disclose certain information with tenants when increasing the rent by more than 10%, per a press release from Hoboken Councilman Joe Quintero sent out on Thursday, April 3rd.
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The following information is now required to be shared with tenants whose rent is being increased by more than 10%:
- An itemized breakdown of costs associated with the increase.
- A statement on whether a rent algorithm was used to determine the new rental rate.
- A notification of the tenant’s right to legal action if they believe the increase is unconscionable or unlawful.
- Contact information for the Hoboken Division of Housing and Tenant Advocate for further guidance.
Landlords who fail to provide the required disclosures may face fines of up to $1,000 per incident.
The new law, led by Councilman Quintero, is a part of the City’s efforts to promote housing stability and “aimed at increasing transparency and protecting tenants from excessive rent hikes.” It is co-sponsored by Councilmembers Emily Jabbour and Phil Cohen.
“As housing affordability continues to be a major concern for our residents, this ordinance ensures greater transparency and provides tenants with the information they need to make informed decisions about their homes,” Councilman Quintero said in the press release. “While we recognize that landlords may need to raise rents due to rising costs, tenants deserve to understand why their rent is increasing and what their rights are.”
“I am committed to ensuring transparency in our housing market,” Hoboken Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla shared with The Hoboken Girl. “This new law is a step towards holding corporate landlords accountable, especially those that are not subject to rent control. By requiring landlords to justify rent increases over 10%, we are taking proactive measures to ensure that tenants are better informed and protected from undue financial burdens. Thank you to the Hoboken City Council for adopting this common-sense ordinance.”
“What I see as the single most important part of this ordinance is the requirement to provide tenants with contact information for our Department of Housing and to inform them of their rights under state law,” Hoboken Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher shared with HG. “Information is power, and too many tenants don’t know these resources exist or that they’re protected under state law.”
“I am proud to cosponsor this legislation that aims to empower renters in Hoboken to have more information about what is driving the increases in rent levels and to allow the City to better understand the use of algorithmic software when it comes to how landlords determine rent,” Hoboken Councilwoman Emily Jabbour shared with HG. “Thank you to Councilman Joe Quintero for his leadership on this new way to protect tenants rights.”
“A rent increase of 10% or more can force families out of their homes,” Hoboken Councilman Phil Cohen told HG. “I am proud to co-sponsor this law, requiring Hoboken landlords to provide basic disclosures about these extraordinary rent hikes to help tenants fight back and challenge landlords’ unfair practices.”
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