North Arlington NJ Landlords: Questions on Rent Control Rules

[Sunny Burns]

, Rent Control Laws: http://ecode360.com/11268660

So I did a quick search for any landlords in North Arlington that I could connect with, but results returned no active ones.

Is there anyone on BP who has a rental in North Arlington? I had a few questions, as it is my first town with rent control and some of the stipulations seem ridiculous and confusing. Please see below highlights:

Rent Control Highlights

For Renewals and Currently Leased

-At normal lease renewal time, rent can only be increased 4$

-Only at lease end and only once in a 12 month period

-Must notify tenants 30 days beforehand (signed receipt)

-Capital Improvements can never increase tenants rent by more than 15%

-A calculation including the total cost, # of useful years, square footage of dwelling must be made

For Vacant Units

-No more than an increase of 30% of the prior tenant's rent.

-Previous tenants must have left voluntarily and not been coerced.

-Town must receive noncoercion certificate within 60 days of vacating tenant. Signed by vacating tenant.

-Notification to North Arlington Rent Leveling Secretary every time there is a vacancy. Notification includes:

1)Apartment # of vacant unit

2)Previous rent paid by vacating tenant

3)Maximum Permissible Rent

4)# of days apartment remains vacant

5)Rent agreed by New Tenant

General Rules

-Landlord must send monthly report to Rent Leveling Secretary(Email, Snail-Mail) by  the 15th

-Include any changes in occupancy of the building

-If changes, include name of former tenants and new tenants, terms of new tenancy, amount of former and new rent

-If no change, then a statement to that effect

-Certificate of Occupancy is needed for every new tenant, Not if one was done in the last 12 month

-The Owner renting for the first time shall not be restricted in the initial rent he charges

Anyway I guess, I am just wondering what we can and can't get away with in terms of increasing rents since we are new owners with inherited tenants. We inherited with one leased tenant, one Month to Month, and one Vacancy. Would really like to have a phone call or sit down with a landlord, let me know.