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New Jersey Residential Lease Agreement Template
New Jersey layers detailed paperwork on top of a deposit cap of one and a half months' rent. Landlords must hold deposits in an interest-bearing New Jersey account, send a written bank notice within 30 days, and provide disclosures such as the Truth in Renting statement and, since March 20, 2024, flood-zone and flood-history information on the state form.
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New Jersey rules to know
Deposit capped at 1.5 months
A security deposit may not exceed one and a half months' rent, and any annual increase is limited to 10% of the current deposit. These limits generally do not apply to owner-occupied buildings with two or fewer units.
N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.2 (Rent Security Deposit Act)
Bank account notice within 30 days
Deposits must be held in an interest-bearing account at a New Jersey bank or similar institution. Within 30 days, notify the tenant in writing of the institution's name and address, account type, interest rate, and deposit amount, and pay or credit interest annually.
N.J.S.A. 46:8-19
Return within 30 days, itemized
Within 30 days after the lease ends, return the deposit plus interest, less itemized deductions, by personal delivery or registered or certified mail (5 days after a fire, flood, or displacement). Wrongful withholding can lead to double damages.
N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1
Required disclosures
Give tenants the state's Truth in Renting statement (most buildings with more than two units). Since March 20, 2024, landlords must also disclose flood-zone status and known flood history using the state form, and most pre-1978 rentals need lead-paint inspections.
Truth in Renting Act, N.J.S.A. 46:8-43 et seq.; P.L.2023, c.93; P.L.2021, c.182
Last updated 2026-10-05
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What a residential lease agreement covers
- Parties, premises and term
- Rent, due date and late fees
- Security deposit amount and return
- Maintenance and repair responsibilities
- Pets, guests and use restrictions
- Entry and notice rules
- Required state and federal disclosures
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Frequently asked questions
- Can I raise a security deposit in New Jersey?
- A New Jersey deposit may not exceed one and a half months' rent, and any annual increase is limited to 10% of the current deposit. These limits generally do not apply to owner-occupied buildings with two or fewer units, so check whether your property falls into that exemption.
- What must the New Jersey bank account notice say?
- Deposits must be held in an interest-bearing account at a New Jersey bank or similar institution. Within 30 days, notify the tenant in writing of the institution's name and address, the account type, the interest rate, and the deposit amount. Interest must then be paid or credited annually.
- Do I need to give New Jersey tenants the Truth in Renting statement?
- Most buildings with more than two units must provide the state's Truth in Renting statement. Since March 20, 2024, landlords must also disclose flood-zone status and known flood history using the state form, and most pre-1978 rentals need lead-paint inspections.
- How much can I charge for a security deposit?
- Many states cap deposits — often at one or two months' rent — and set a deadline for returning them with an itemized list of deductions. The cap and deadline vary by state.
- What disclosures does a lease need?
- Federal law requires a lead-based paint disclosure for most housing built before 1978. States add their own, such as mold, flood zone, bed bugs or the deposit's bank location.
- Can I just use a national lease template?
- Risky. Lease law is mostly state and local, and a clause that's fine in one state can be void — or carry penalties — in another.
Residential Lease Agreement in other states
More New Jersey templates
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