Tag: Senate Bill 1665

New Jersey Legislature Weighs Sealing Court Records for Landlord-Tenant Actions December 3, 2022 The New Jersey State Senate is discussing legislation that would keep many landlord-tenant actions confidential. Passing this legislation would mean that several tenant records would not appear on tenant screening reports. The Senate Bill 1665 (SB1665) legislation intends to protect tenants who may otherwise face difficulty finding housing due to former actions, such as evictions. Currently, evictions appear on tenant screening reports even when such notices do not end with evicted tenants. Housing advocates oppose this practice, explaining that tenants and landlords must either work out an agreement or fight in lawsuits. The legislation would increase the confidentiality of landlord and tenant records by sealing court records of landlord-tenant actions under certain conditions. Under SB1665, court records for actions between landlords and tenants would become confidential during proceedings, and should the tenant prevail, they would remain that way. Furthermore, SB1665 expansively defines court records as "containing information regarding a past or current landlord-tenant action, and any record of the filing of a landlord-tenant action." In turn, the bill defines a landlord-tenant action as any action brought by or against either a landlord or tenant, most notably including eviction actions. The bill would also prohibit landlords from considering unresolved eviction actions in tenant screening. In addition, it would raise the penalties for illegally using court filings against potential tenants to $1,000 for initial offenses and $5,000 for all future offenses. Previously, the law sealed court records for evictions between April 2020 and August 3, 2021. Currently, housing advocates argue to continue sealing these records to protect potential tenants. They emphasized that populations who are most affected include Black and Latino renters. However, the bill has received opposition from organizations representing landlords. This opposition has argued that landlords provide tenants with an asset worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. They also emphasized that providing landlords with the tools necessary to make safe and educated rental decisions for their property and other tenants is crucial. However, they have acknowledged the importance of protecting tenants' rights and that finding housing is a valuable concern. As of now, the bill is before the state's legislature, and its fate remains uncertain. However, should it pass into law, it would mean significant changes in how landlords screen and make housing decisions concerning potential tenants. As a result, New Jersey landlords need to keep an eye on this bill and prepare for what may come. Keep your business up to date on new laws and regulations with Pre-employ’s free news resources. Contact a sales rep today. Source

Tag: Senate Bill 1665

New Jersey Legislature Weighs Sealing Court Records for Landlord-Tenant Actions

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