N.J. Admin. Code § 5:80-26.12

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 5:80-26.12 - Restrictions on rents

(a) The initial rent for a restricted rental unit shall be approved by the administrative agent and, if the unit is receiving assistance under the Balanced Housing Program, shall be consistent with the Balanced Housing grant agreement. The initial rent shall be calculated so as not to exceed 30 percent of the eligible monthly income of the appropriate household size as determined under 5:80-26.4; provided, however, that the rent shall be subject to the affordability average requirement of 5:80-26.3.

(b) At the anniversary date of the tenancy of the certified household occupying a restricted rental unit, the rent may be increased, if such increase is consistent with the regional income limits most recently published by COAH, calculated pursuant to 5:94-7.2(b), and has been filed with the administrative agent. If the landlord has charged a tenant less than the initial maximum allowable rent for a restricted unit, the landlord may, with the approval of the administrative agent, use the maximum allowable rent instead of the current rent in performing this multiplication to establish the rent for the next tenant under a new lease.

(c) Approved initial rents may not be increased when an announcement of a COAH-adopted increase occurs during initial lease-up activity. Rents may not be increased more than once a year. Rents may not be increased by more than one COAH-approved increment at one time. Rents may not be increased at the time of a new occupancy if the new occupancy occurs within a year of the last occupancy and prior to the next published COAH-adopted increase. No additional fees or charges may be added to the approved rent (except, in the case of units in an assisted living residence, for the customary charges for food and services) without the express written approval of the administrative agent. Application fees (including the charge for any credit check) may not exceed five percent of the monthly rental of the applicable restricted unit and shall be payable to the administrative agent to be applied to the costs of administering the controls in this subchapter as applicable to the unit.

(d) A written lease is required for all restricted rental units, except for units in an assisted living residence. Final lease agreements are the responsibility of the landlord and the prospective tenant. Tenants are responsible for security deposits and the full amount of the rent as stated on the lease. All lease provisions shall comply with applicable law. The landlord shall provide the administrative agent with sufficient information for a preparation of a unit inventory form for entry into the centralized affordable housing unit inventory system. The landlord shall submit a copy of each lease entered into with a certified household to the administrative agent within 10 business days after the execution of each lease.

(e) Those tenant-paid utilities that are included in the utility allowance shall be so stated in the lease. The allowance for utilities shall be consistent with the utility allowance approved by DCA for its Section 8 program.

N.J. Admin. Code § 5:80-26.12

Amended by R.2004 d.475, effective 12/20/2004.
See: 36 New Jersey Register 3655(a), 36 New Jersey Register 5713(a).
Rewrote the section.