New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
Division of Codes and Standards
Landlord-Tenant Information Service
REPRISAL LAW
N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.10 through 10.14
Printed February 2008
2A:42-10.10. Reprisal as unlawful grounds for civil action for re-entry; action for damages
or other appropriate relief by tenant
No landlord of premises or units to which this act is applicable shall serve a notice to quit
upon any tenant or institute any action against a tenant to recover possession of premises,
whether by summary dispossess proceedings, civil action for the possession of land, or
otherwise:
a. As a reprisal for the tenant's efforts to secure or enforce any rights under the lease or
contract, or under the laws of the State of New Jersey or its governmental subdivisions, or of the
United States; or
b. As a reprisal for the tenant's good faith complaint to a governmental authority of the
landlord's alleged violation of any health or safety law, regulation, code or ordinance, or State
law or regulation which has as its objective the regulation of premises used for dwelling
purposes; or
c. As a reprisal for the tenant's being an organizer of, a member of, or involved in any
activities of, any lawful organization; or
d. On account of the tenant's failure or refusal to comply with the terms of the tenancy as
altered by the landlord, if the landlord shall have altered substantially the terms of the tenancy as
a reprisal for any actions of the tenant set forth in subsection a, b, and c of section 1 of this act.
Substantial alteration shall include the refusal to renew a lease or to continue a tenancy of the
tenant without cause.