N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:18-51 et seq. § 2A:18-61.67
Notice provided in lease
Operative Text
2. If a residential lease agreement provides that the landlord is or may be entitled to recover attorney's fees or expenses, or both from the tenant for any action or summary proceeding arising out of the lease, as described in section 1 of P.L.2013, c.206 (C.2A:18-61.66), the lease clause shall also contain the following provision in a bold typeface in a font size no less than one point larger than the point size of the rest of the lease clause or 11 points, whichever is larger: IF THE TENANT IS SUCCESSFUL IN ANY ACTION OR SUMMARY PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS LEASE, THE TENANT SHALL RECOVER ATTORNEY'S FEES OR EXPENSES, OR BOTH FROM THE LANDLORD TO THE SAME EXTENT THE LANDLORD IS ENTITLED TO RECOVER ATTORNEY'S FEES OR EXPENSES, OR BOTH AS PROVIDED IN THIS LEASE. L.2013, c.206, s.2.
Under N.J.S.A. 2A:18-51 et seq. § 2A:18-61.67, when a residential lease includes a clause allowing the landlord to recover attorney's fees or expenses from the tenant, that same clause must also guarantee the tenant an equal right to recover attorney's fees or expenses if the tenant prevails in any action or proceeding arising from the lease. The reciprocal tenant-protection language must appear in bold typeface at a font size at least one point larger than the surrounding text, or 11 points, whichever is greater. This provision creates a mandatory symmetry: a landlord cannot contractually claim a one-sided fee-recovery advantage over a tenant.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who include attorney's-fee clauses in residential leases must comply with N.J.S.A. 2A:18-51 et seq. § 2A:18-61.67 by ensuring those clauses also contain the required reciprocal language granting tenants equal fee-recovery rights. Compliant operators format that reciprocal language in bold typeface at the minimum required font size — at least one point larger than the rest of the clause or 11 points, whichever is larger. Reviewing lease templates with a qualified attorney familiar with New Jersey landlord-tenant law is a common practice for operators seeking to confirm their documents meet these formatting and content requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.J.S.A. 2A:18-51 et seq. § 2A:18-61.67 gives residential tenants the right to recover attorney's fees and expenses from a landlord to the same extent the landlord could recover them from the tenant, whenever the tenant prevails in an action or proceeding arising from the lease. If a lease contains an attorney's-fee clause that lacks this required reciprocal language — or presents it without the mandated bold formatting and minimum font size — the clause may not comply with New Jersey law. Tenants who believe their lease violates this provision may consider consulting a tenant-rights organization or a licensed New Jersey attorney to understand what options may be available to them.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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