Legal Question in Real Estate Law in New Jersey

lease renewal

My lease expires on 04/15/2003. Every year the landlord sends out the renewal agreement on 02/01/2003. In the past, the rate increase has been $25 over the previous year, this time it's $50. The renewal agreement only offers two choice: 1) to sign another one-year lease, or 2)vacate when the lease expires. I spoke to the landlord, and he won't offer any flexibility such as converting to a half-year or month-by-month lease. My question is: is it legal for him to lock me into yearly-based lease only even after my three-year residence in the property and if the rate increase is debatable expecially when the economy is so weak right now and there's pratically no inflation? Thank you.


Asked on 2/05/03, 11:03 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Walter LeVine Walter D. LeVine, Esq.

Re: lease renewal

Unless there is rent control involving your apartment, leases are purely negotiable between landlord and tenant. If you intend to stay, maybe negotiating a longer lease will give you flexibility. Otherwise, you are at the mercy of the landlord and his terms. Market conditions control.

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Answered on 2/05/03, 12:58 pm


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