Bloomfield Passes Rent Control Law: 3 Percent Cap For Landlords

Bloomfield, NJ – Are you able to afford your rent in Bloomfield? Now there’s a new law that will help you keep the wolves from the door.

During its Monday public meeting, the Bloomfield Town Council approved a landmark rent control ordinance that is designed to help residents keep pace with rising real estate costs in the township.

The law limits annual rent increases to 3 percent, or “the percentage difference between the Consumer Price Index for three months prior to the termination of the lease and the three months prior to the commencement of the lease term, whichever is greater but not to exceed 5 percent.”

Bloomfield tenants will have the right to file an objection to any proposed rent increase with the municipal Rent Leveling Board, which will meet within 30 days to conduct a hearing.

If a landlord files a successful tax appeal, their tenants will receive 75 percent of all reductions as applied to their lease after deduction of appeal expenses, the ordinance states.

Landlords will be able to file exemptions including “hardship rent increases” and “increases for major capital improvements.”

The ordinance will not apply to any dwelling with five or fewer units, or leases where the rent is determined by the tenant’s income or government subsidized.

The law will take effect on July 1, 2016.

See the full rent control ordinance online here.

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