- NJ
- Hudson County
- 10/3/24
- 10/19/2024
- 65 Minutes
- Noteworthy
- Highly Noteworthy
- Routine
Overview: During a special meeting on October 3, 2024, the Jersey City Rent Leveling Board deliberated on significant cases, including a contentious legal rent petition for the property on Central Avenue and a Vacancy Capital Improvement appeal for a property on Randolph Avenue. The board ultimately upheld rent control for a property on Central Avenue, rejecting the landlord’s appeal for exemption, and remanded the Randolph Avenue appeal for further evidence submission.
- NJ
- Hudson County
- 7/18/24
- 07/19/2024
- 115 Minutes
- Noteworthy
- Highly Noteworthy
- Routine
Overview: The Jersey City Rent Leveling Board recently convened to address a series of issues involving landlord applications for hardship rent increases and tenant allegations of harassment and neglect. One notable matter involved a property on New York Avenue, where the board deliberated over a landlord’s hardship application, which was met with detailed tenant complaints of coercion and property mismanagement. Tenants described a pattern of harassment, neglect, and deceptive practices, including hidden cameras and unaddressed security concerns. The board, acknowledging the tenants’ grievances, chose to further investigate before rendering a decision.
- NJ
- Hudson County
- 3/20/24
- 03/29/2024
- 35 Minutes
- Noteworthy
- Highly Noteworthy
- Routine
Overview: The Jersey City Rent Leveling Board recently convened to address a Vacancy Capital Improvement appeal for a property on Magnolia Avenue, where the calculation of construction costs for unit improvements became the central issue. The board appointed its chair and vice chair before delving into the contentious matter, which involved the applicant’s representative, Yoli Ring, challenging the board’s cost-per-square-foot calculation method. The board’s inspector, Tom, defended the existing process, citing the National Home Improvement estimator and itemized invoices as the basis for their decision.
- NJ
- Middlesex County
- 1/25/24
- 01/26/2024
- 198 Minutes
- Noteworthy
- Highly Noteworthy
- Routine
Overview: The Highland Park Rent Leveling Board’s recent meeting was primarily centered on the challenging issues of defining landlord hardship and determining fair rent increases in light of the recently enacted rent control ordinance. The case of landlord Garrett, who cited financial difficulties under the new ordinance, was particularly prominent. Garrett’s appeal for a rent increase above the ordinance’s standard rate due to alleged hardships sparked a discussion about the fairness of rent adjustments and the future of local rent policies.
- NJ
- Essex County
- 12/14/23
- 01/11/2024
- 21 Minutes
- Noteworthy
- Highly Noteworthy
- Routine
Overview: In a recent Nutley Rent Leveling Board meeting, a motion was carried to limit the rent increase for a garage on Warren Street to 5%, including it under the rent control ordinance. This decision followed a dispute between a tenant, who argued that the garage had always been part of her rent, and the landlord, who claimed the garage was not a living space and thus not covered by rent control. The board referenced a 2011 memo by former attorney Mr. Gizzo, stating all rent is subject to the code, but also acknowledged that the definition of a dwelling unit could be open to interpretation. Despite the landlord’s attorney presenting three main points to exclude the garage from the rent control, the board ultimately decided in favor of the tenant, recognizing a clerical error omitted the garage from the 2020 lease but did not change the terms of occupancy.