rent freeze

The group of landlords that has petitioned to have the issue of rent control put before Montclair’s voters has asked a judge to stop further rent freeze extensions and to nullify past freezes.

A Montclair landlords group intends to sue the township for once again extending a rent-increase freeze, this time through March 2022. 

Montclair landlords are urging the township to end its rent increase freeze, as New Jersey’s  public health emergency for the coronavirus pandemic was lifted in June, and property owners are dealing with increased costs. 

The "heartbeat of Montclair" shouldn't be pushed out by the ever-increasing cost of living, Nadia Liz Estela says.

The Montclair Property Owners Association asks: "If we are going to have rent control, why not have good rent control that is thoughtful, balanced and fair?"

Montclair officials enacted a rent freeze last year to protect tenants during the economic downturn due to COVID-19. Now, a Landlord-Tenant Housing Advisory Committee official says that while some landlords have violated the ordinance, some tenants have filed false claims about landlords concerning the freeze. 

After some renters reported receiving increases when their leases expired, rent-control advocates are asking the town to enforce the rent-freeze ordinance approved in May.

Montclair’s rent-control ordinance is in limbo.

BY JAIMIE JULIA WINTERS winters@montclairlocal.news With almost half of Montclair’s residents paying rent rather than a mortgage and COVID-19 bringing severe job and wage loss, government officials and housing advocates are doing what they can to help. ...

Pointing to the COVID-19 crisis and the economic instability it has wrought, Montclair’s mayor and council are moving to put a temporary moratorium on rent increases.