Cape May County Renters Could Gain Protection Against Unconscionable Rent Hikes

CAPE MAY COUNTY, N.J. — A new bill in the New Jersey General Assembly seeks to protect renters in Cape May County and across the state from excessive rent increases deemed “unconscionable,” Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez said. The legislation would allow tenants to challenge steep rent hikes in court, with judges evaluating factors like the size of the increase, landlord expenses and profits, and whether the raise would shock a reasonable person. The bill places the burden of proof on landlords to justify rent increases and ensure they are not unfair. The effort comes amid growing concern in Cape May County’s mobile home communities, where tenants have recently faced double-digit lot rent increases. At Osprey Cove Mobile Home Park in Ocean View, residents protested a proposed 30% rent hike set for June 1, calling it unreasonable. Assemblymen Erik Simonsen and Antwan McClellan have also sponsored separate legislation to cap lot rent increases for mobile and manufactured home owners at 3% per year. Lopez’s bill does not impose a fixed cap on rent hikes but creates standards to determine when increases are unjust. These measures reflect rising attention to housing affordability challenges in Cape May County and efforts to protect vulnerable renters from sudden and steep cost spikes.