TRENTON – A bill, sponsored by Sens. Nia H. Gill and Ronald L. Rice to authorize seniors to terminate residential leases when they gain access to an assisted living facility, nursing home, continuing care retirement community or low or moderate income housing, has been signed into law by Acting Governor Richard J. Codey.
“It’s often a hardship, financially, for senior citizens when they must move from rental housing to assisted living or to a nursing home,” said Senator Gill, D-Essex and Passaic. “This new law provides some transitional support for families helping their elder loved ones get settled in an assisted living environment.”
Senator Rice, D-Essex, said the legislation, S-2112, requires a doctor’s notice citing the need of a senior tenant, 62 years or older, to move into an elder care facility or nursing home.
“It’s too difficult right now for a senior citizen to get out of a lease without incurring staggering financial expenditures,” said Senator Rice. “This bill will provide transition help to those who need it.”
The new law limits the ability to terminate a lease in order to relocate into low or moderate income housing to those seniors who are not already living in such housing.