Old Bridge rent control: maximum rent increase (2026)
Middlesex County — Chapter 388, Rental Property (Rent Stabilization Board / Article XXXI 'Committee on Fair Rental Increases' provisions). Full ordinance text ↗
Summary
- Cap formula
- At the expiration of a lease or termination of a periodic tenancy of at least 12 months, the increase may not exceed the lesser of the CPI as of January 1 of the current year or 3%, reviewed annually by the Township Council; real estate taxes passed through to tenants are excluded from this calculation.
- Frequency
- once per 12-month period
- Notice required
- 120 days — Prior to any application, the landlord must serve each tenant, by registered/certified mail or personal service, notice of the application filing at least 120 days before the expiration of the lease, setting forth the basis for the application, the allowable rental increase, and the calculations involved (including the CPI). An affidavit of service is required if certified/registered mail is not received within 10 days.
- Who's covered
- Rental complexes with 3 or more units
- Exemptions
- Leases entered between 6/1/2006 and 5/31/2010
- Motels, hotels, similar premises
- Buildings in which up to 1/3 of occupied space is commercial
- Housing with 2 units or less
- New construction of multiple dwellings, for the lesser of 30 years or the amortization period of any initial mortgage loan
- new construction (30 yrs from certificate of occupancy, N.J.S.A. 2A:42-84.2)
- Vacancy decontrol
- A tenant who has continuously resided in an apartment complex for at least 3 years and seeks to move to another apartment within the same complex has priority for a vacant apartment (unless the landlord is contractually bound to a prospective tenant); the rent for the new apartment cannot exceed the maximum rent then charged for an equal-size apartment that has never been decontrolled, or the same rent as the unit vacated if the new apartment is the same size. The new apartment is not itself considered a vacancy-decontrolled unit. The tenant must register a dated letter/application with the landlord and the Rent Stabilization Board Secretary.
- Registration
- Every owner of a complex must register with the Rent Stabilization Board, filing a copy of the current mortgage and a statement of rentals charged as of October 1 each year; the statement must be filed by November 15 each year, with an annual registration fee of $10 per rental unit payable January 1.
- Surcharges
- Capital improvement and hardship increase applications are available through the Rent Stabilization Board, with notice to tenants at least 60 days prior to the public hearing.
- Penalties
- A willful violation of any provision of the article, including willful filing of a material misstatement of fact with the Rent Stabilization Board, is punishable as set forth in Chapter 1, Article II, Penalty; a violation affecting more than one leasehold is a separate violation as to each leasehold. Failure to register (§388-10) carries a fine of not less than $500 up to the maximum general penalty, and can bar issuance of certificates of occupancy for new tenancies.
- Status
- active
- Confidence
- high
- Last verified
- 2026-09-23
Calculate your maximum increase
Ordinance text
A landlord shall not request or receive from a tenant, nor increase rents a percentage of rent which is greater than the CPI of January 1 of the current year or 3%, whichever is lower.Chapter 388, Rental Property (Rent Stabilization Board / Article XXXI 'Committee on Fair Rental Increases' provisions) — https://ecode360.com/7013390
State survey entry
- Increase limit
- Cap at CPI or 3%, whichever lower.
- Units covered
- 3+
- Exceptions
- Exception(s) - Leases entered between 6/1/06 and 5/31/10, motels, hotels, similar premises, buildings in which up to 1/3 of occupied space is commercial, housing with 2 units or less, and new construction of multiple dwellings for lesser of 30 years and period of amortization of any initial mortgage loan.
Vacancy Decontrol. If tenant who has continuously resided in an apartment complex for 3 years seeks to move into another apartment within same complex, he/she shall have priority to a vacancy. This new apartment's rent shall not exceed the maximum rent charged for a comparable apartment in same complex that has never been decontrolled.
Source: NJ Department of Community Affairs, 2026 Rent Control Survey — nj.gov
Rent board
Rent Stabilization Board · (732) 721-5600 ext- 4022 · https://www.oldbridge.com/page/rent-stabilization-board
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