LOVE/MORIARTY BILL EMPOWERING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS TO BREAK LEASES TO ESCAPE ABUSE ADVANCES

(TRENTON) – The Senate today gave final approval to legislation Assemblywoman Sandi Love and Assemblyman Paul Moriarty are sponsoring to enable domestic abuse victims to break a residential lease agreement to escape from their abuser.

“For some victims of domestic violence, the legal hurdles to escape an abusive relationship can be just as hard to overcome as the emotional hurdles,” said Love (D-Camden/Gloucester). “Someone should never feel that because they signed a lease, they are locked into having to live with their abuser. Empowering renters to work with their landlords to escape a violent relationship only makes sense.”

The Love/Moriarty measure (A-2871) would empower a domestic violence victim to terminate their lease upon providing their landlord with written notice and copy of a permanent restraining order, or other official law enforcement or medical document showing they have been a victim of abuse.

A landlord would be required to return the resident’s security deposit minus any rent or other charges within 15 days of a lease’s termination.

“A victim of abuse should not have to live in fear and count down the days until a lease expires,” said Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden). “The sooner victims can leave a abusive relationship and seek help, the sooner they can restart their lives. When it comes down to it, a lease is only a piece of paper, not a prison wall.”

The measure now heads to the governor, who may sign it, veto it or modify it in the form of a conditional veto.