Question regarding personal occupancy provision for landlord to occupy tenant’s unit

[Vinny Calla]

Hello everyone,

I will be a first time home buyer and landlord as I am in the process of purchasing a duplex in Haddon Heights, NJ. There are tenants living in the downstairs unit under a 1 year fixed-term lease ending October 31st 2024. I plan on occupying the upstairs unit until the tenant’s lease expires downstairs. Once their lease ends I plan on switching to the downstairs unit to live and make renovations. I do not wish to keep the current tenants and was hoping to learn the best way to handle the situation and give them proper notice. I am aware that NJ has a personal occupancy provision in which the landlord gives at least 2 months written notice stating that the owner would like to occupy the downstairs unit once the tenants lease expires. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I am trying to handle this properly. Thank you!