Montclair Town Council Extends Moratorium On Local Rent Increases

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair home renters struggling to make ends meet during the coronavirus pandemic can breathe a little easier for now: the township has extended its temporary moratorium on rent increases.

During their Tuesday meeting, the Montclair Town Council passed resolution R-21-046, extending the town’s rent increase moratorium through June 30.

Montclair officials provided some background about the ongoing moratorium in a news release:

"The Montclair Township Council passed ordinance O-20-08 at the May 1, 2020, council meeting, to place a temporary moratorium on rent increases during the COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency. The moratorium prevents any increase in the amount paid in rent or any additional charges by residential tenants in all residential rental units in the township. The governing body also passed a resolution declaring an emergency in order to have the ordinance take effect retroactively and immediately. Ordinance O-20-08 was amended twice before to extend the rent increase moratorium period."

There are some exemptions, including:

• Rental units in properties that are owner-occupied with no more than one additional rental unit
• Rental units in properties exempt from local rent regulation by state or federal law
• Rental units in which the rent is determined as the function of household income
• Rental units in hotels

Watch a video of Tuesday’s council meeting below.

The town’s rent increase moratorium is separate from its recently passed rent control ordinance, which limits annual increases in Montclair to 2.5 percent for seniors and 4.25 percent for other tenants, with some exceptions.

A court injunction and challenge from local property owners has held up the law, and may place it before voters in a future election.

• See related article: Rent Control Fight In Montclair Still Alive; Law May Hit Ballot

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