Rental Application in New Jersey

A rental application that collects what landlords commonly ask for. Follow your state's limits on application fees and fair-housing rules: ask every applicant the same questions.

What New Jersey law says

Application / screening fees	Capped at $50. A landlord or agent may not require an application or similar fee above $50 to apply to lease or sublease a residential unit. The cap is adjusted each January 1 by the Division of Consumer Affairs in line with the regional CPI. Exempt: units in one- or two-family dwellings, and real estate licensees who are not the landlord. Violations carry penalties of up to $500 (first), $750 (second), and $1,000 (each later offense), enforced in the Special Civil Part on complaint of the Division of Consumer Affairs director or the Attorney General; the overcharge is refunded to the applicant from the penalty. Source: N.J.S.A. 46:8-18.1 (P.L.2025, c.405); 46:8-18.2
Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income	Yes, statewide. The Law Against Discrimination bars refusing to rent because of the source of any lawful income or rent payment, including Section 8 and other federal, state or local vouchers and rental assistance, nonprofit rental assistance, disability and veterans' benefits, and court-ordered payments such as child support or alimony. Listings may not exclude these sources. Under amendments signed January 12, 2026 (effective immediately), a landlord may not refuse a lawful source of payment, and any minimum-income requirement or financial standard must be based only on the portion of the rent the tenant will pay. Except for publicly assisted housing, the LAD does not apply to renting a unit in a two-family home where the owner lives in the other unit, or renting rooms in an owner-occupied one-family home (N.J.S.A. 10:5-5, definition of "real property"). AG / Division on Civil Rights guidance: https://www.njoag.gov/about/divisions-and-offices/division-on-civil-rights-home/know-the-law/njlad/discrimination-in-housing/. Military/veteran housing allowances must also be counted as income (N.J.S.A. 46:8-51). Source: N.J.S.A. 10:5-5(yy), 10:5-12(g)(4) (Law Against Discrimination), as amended by P.L.2025, c.251 (approved Jan. 12, 2026)

Application / screening fees

Capped at $50. A landlord or agent may not require an application or similar fee above $50 to apply to lease or sublease a residential unit. The cap is adjusted each January 1 by the Division of Consumer Affairs in line with the regional CPI. Exempt: units in one- or two-family dwellings, and real estate licensees who are not the landlord. Violations carry penalties of up to $500 (first), $750 (second), and $1,000 (each later offense), enforced in the Special Civil Part on complaint of the Division of Consumer Affairs director or the Attorney General; the overcharge is refunded to the applicant from the penalty.

Source: N.J.S.A. 46:8-18.1 (P.L.2025, c.405); 46:8-18.2

Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income

Yes, statewide. The Law Against Discrimination bars refusing to rent because of the source of any lawful income or rent payment, including Section 8 and other federal, state or local vouchers and rental assistance, nonprofit rental assistance, disability and veterans' benefits, and court-ordered payments such as child support or alimony. Listings may not exclude these sources. Under amendments signed January 12, 2026 (effective immediately), a landlord may not refuse a lawful source of payment, and any minimum-income requirement or financial standard must be based only on the portion of the rent the tenant will pay.

Except for publicly assisted housing, the LAD does not apply to renting a unit in a two-family home where the owner lives in the other unit, or renting rooms in an owner-occupied one-family home (N.J.S.A. 10:5-5, definition of "real property"). AG / Division on Civil Rights guidance: https://www.njoag.gov/about/divisions-and-offices/division-on-civil-rights-home/know-the-law/njlad/discrimination-in-housing/. Military/veteran housing allowances must also be counted as income (N.J.S.A. 46:8-51).

Source: N.J.S.A. 10:5-5(yy), 10:5-12(g)(4) (Law Against Discrimination), as amended by P.L.2025, c.251 (approved Jan. 12, 2026)

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RENTAL APPLICATION — [rental address]

Applicant name: [applicant name] Phone: [phone] Email: [email]

Current address: [current address] How long: [time at current address] Current rent: $[current rent]

Current landlord: [current landlord name and phone]

Previous address and landlord: [previous address and landlord]

Employer: [employer] Position: [position] Monthly income: $[monthly income] Other income (including housing vouchers or benefits): [other income]

Other adults who will live in the unit: [other adult occupants] Number of minors: [number of minors]

Pets or assistance animals: [pets] Vehicles: [vehicles]

Application fee: $[application fee] (see your state's rule above). Screening company used: [screening company name and contact]

I authorize the landlord to verify this information and obtain a tenant screening or credit report. Signature: ____________ Date: [date signed]

Rental Application for other states · New Jersey tenant rights

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.