Notice of the right to apply for comparable housing. The tenant has the right to
request comparable housing within 18 months of receipt of the notice. N.J.S.A.
2A:18-61.11.
If comparable housing is not provided the tenant may be entitled to 5-one-year
stays, allowing the tenant to remain in the rental unit. After the first one-year stay
a landlord who is unable to relocate the tenant may buy the tenant out by paying
the tenant for five months rent or by waiving five months rent and allowing the
tenant to remain in the unit for that 5 month period, N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.11 and
61.16
During the 3-year notice period (or up to 8 years in the case of 5 one-year stays of
evictions) rent increases cannot be unreasonable. If the property was regulated by
the municipal rent control or rent leveling board prior to conversion, after
conversion rent increases should remain in line with the limits set by the rent
control ordinance. N.J.A.C. 5:24-1.12.
After the 3-year notice period, the landlord may file for an eviction, however, if
the tenant remains in possession and the landlord accepts the rent, the landlord
may not rely upon the conversion as a ground for eviction. Fairken Assoc. v.
Hutchen, 223 N.J.Super. 274 (1987)
Pre-Conversion tenants who are evicted because the unit is being converted to a
condo are entitled to moving expenses, a waiver of one month’s rent. N.J.S.A.
2A:18-61.10.