Rules in NJ for rent increase mid-lease

[Daniel Velez]

Does anyone know if there are certain rules for a rent increase mid-lease or restructuring of covered/non covered expenses and offering an updated lease with the tenant in New Jersey?

Lease does not renew until 2/2019, but we had a question in a REI meeting about what the rules in New Jersey were for increasing rent and/or restructuring rules mid-lease. I researched the question on the NJ landlord website, but did not see anything that said it was prohibited. All that I saw mentioned was appropriate notice to the tenant was needed. Any insights would be great!

Thanks

[Jonathan Herron]

@Daniel Velez New Jersey law does not prevent you and your tenant from agreeing to changes and signing an amended lease before the expiration of the current lease.  However, a landlord cannot unilaterally make changes to a written lease while that lease is in effect.  (See the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Division of Codes and Standards most recent Lease Information Bulletin)   The tenant has the legal right to decline the amendment.  

It would also depend on the language of the lease currently in effect whether any changes could be made.  The terms of the lease largely govern actions both a landlord and/or tenant can take.