TO ACCESS THE STATE’s COVID-19 INFORMATION HUB, PLEASE VISIT covid19.nj.gov.
Free Housing Counseling for Renters during COVID-19
Are you a renter potentially threatened with a loss of housing due to the COVID-19 crisis? NJHMFA's expanded free housing counseling program can provide resources and guide you through this difficult time with help on financial literacy, Fair Housing Rights, eviction diversion, and relocation assistance. View the list of available counselors statewide.
Protection from Eviction during COVID-19
Renters in New Jersey are protected from eviction and removal from their homes under Governor Murphy's Executive Order 106 until 60 days after the expiration of Executive Order 103. According to state law, if your lease expires and does not renew automatically, you may continue on a month-to-month basis as long as both you and your landlord agree to the arrangement and your landlord continues to accept rent payments. For more on the Governor’s Eviction Moratorium, please visit the Eviction Moratorium Information & Question Form.
Also protected from eviction until at least July 24, 2020 under federal legislation are renters who live in housing with a federally-backed mortgage (e.g., backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or the FHFA) or in housing that has been subsidized or financed by the federal government. View a summary for more on the federal evictions moratorium.
Paying Rent during COVID-19
Renters can request that their landlords utilize their security deposit as rent payment as stipulated in Governor Murphy's Executive Order 128.
Renters living in certain residential buildings financed by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency are eligible for a rent freeze until the expiration of Executive Order 103. To see if your building is covered under the rent freeze, check this list.
COVID-19 and Housing Discrimination
The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, national origin, religion, and disability, among other protected characteristics, even if the conduct at issue stems from concerns related to COVID-19. To learn more, please review the Division on Civil Rights’ recent guidance on civil rights and COVID-19. If you would like to speak to a housing investigator, please contact the Division on Civil Rights at 1-866-405-3050.