Lease renewal question

Submitted by Remarkable_Debate866 t3_11f3bjw in jerseycity

Is texting considered an official lease renewal offer? My landlord texted me a large price increase but thought my lease was up at the end of the month. I tried to negotiate the price but he said let him know, and he’d check our renewal date and didn’t text about it again. Our contract says landlord has to give 90 days notice of proposed terms for a renewal. (If there’s a website or local housing authority that gives clarity I’m happy to look, a decent amount of time on Google didn’t help.)

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tcbafd t1_jahf2pf wrote

Even if the technical 90 day period wasn't done properly, it would simply delay the inevitable if the landlord then decided to now give 90 days notice. It's not like you automatically get another year at current rent.

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Remarkable_Debate866 OP t1_jahfn3u wrote

Definitely, just that any delay is helpful lol and I don’t want him expecting us to move out when our first lease ends. Thank you!

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shootthemoon88 t1_jahx9xw wrote

Actually you do. If you just keep posting rent they have no case against you. You never signed anything about a rate increase.

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tcbafd t1_jaieo34 wrote

And the landlord then refuses to accept it and off to court you go...

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shootthemoon88 t1_jaig7u4 wrote

From Jersey City tenants rights explanation:

"Many written leases will have a section explaining how you can get a new lease when your current lease ends. The lease may, for instance, state that unless the lease is ended by either the landlord or the tenant, it will automatically be renewed for an- other year. But a yearly lease that is not renewed automatically becomes a month-to-month lease when the year in the lease ends. Cite: N.J.S.A. 46:8-10. A month-to-month lease will renew itself automatically for another month unless the tenant or the landlord acts to end the lease. This rule applies even if the lease agreement is oral and not in writing. Cite: N.J.S.A. 46:8-10.

When your lease ends, the landlord can offer you a new lease with changes in the terms and conditions of the lease. To do this, the landlord must give you a written notice ending your existing lease and offering to enter into a new lease with you if you accept the changes. The landlord’s notice must clearly spell out the changes. A tenant’s refusal at the end of a lease to accept rea- sonable changes in the terms and conditions of the lease can result in eviction under the Anti-Eviction Act. To be “reasonable,” the changes must take into account the circumstances and interests of both the landlord and the tenant. This means that your land- lord cannot make lease changes that he or she knows will cause you unnecessary hardship, unless he or she has very strong reasons for doing so. If your landlord sends you a written notice containing lease changes that you think are unreasonable, send a letter to the landlord describing the unreasonable lease changes. Your letter should also say that you will not accept the new lease unless the landlord offers to make changes that are reasonable. Cite: 447 Associates v. Miranda, 115 N.J. 522 (1989)"

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flapjack212 t1_jahn50y wrote

typically the contract itself would state what forms of notice are possible so you should actually review the document again. you can call the tenant relations office for the law if it is not stated in the contract though.

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Remarkable_Debate866 OP t1_jaicfbw wrote

Thanks! It just says “offered a renewal” and “notified of the proposed terms”

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Jctexan t1_jai1wyn wrote

Then you definitely get 90 days. Call the landlord/tenant relation number just to be sure...but sounds like you've got 3 months time to find a new place.

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asiatic44m t1_jaixedg wrote

I have a tenant who hasn't paid in a year, just got him evicted last week and cleaned up the mess he left. Now to go after all the lost cheese.

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