S630

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would remove an exemption in local rent control to protect senior tenants was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 22-16.

“New Jersey has an extremely high cost of living, and it’s difficult for renters on fixed incomes to get by,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex. “Recognizing that many tenants are one financial crisis away from eviction, municipalities throughout the State have adopted rent control as a way to keep their communities affordable. However, there’s a loophole in the law regulating local rent control, and we need to close this loophole to protect those seniors who pay their rent on time, but might not be able to withstand massive increases.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would remove an exemption in local rent control to protect senior tenants was approved by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee today by a vote of 3-2.

“Rent control is a valuable tool to keep New Jersey affordable for those who rent their homes,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex. “However, under existing State law, many newly constructed apartments fall into an exemption from local rent control rules, and can raise rental rates with little concern for the tenants. This is particularly difficult on seniors on fixed incomes, who struggle every day to balance their expenses and meet New Jersey’s high-cost of living.”