N.J. Stat. Ann. § 46:8-1 et seq. § 46:8-3
Lessees of real estate; rights against grantees of reversion
Operative Text
From and after November tenth, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven, all lessees of real estate for a term of years, life or lives, their executors, administrators or assigns, shall have the like action and advantage against all persons and bodies politic and corporate, their heirs, successors and assigns, who have or shall have any gift or grant of the reversions of such real estate so let, or any part thereof, for any condition, covenant or agreement contained in their leases, as the same lessees, or any of them, ought or might have had against such lessors, and their heirs, excepting the right to recover upon any warranty of title, by deed or implied by law.
Under N.J.S.A. 46:8-1 et seq. § 46:8-3, when ownership of a rental property changes hands—through a sale, gift, or other transfer—the existing lease remains enforceable against the new owner. Tenants retain the same rights to enforce lease conditions, covenants, and agreements against the new property owner that they originally held against the original landlord. The one notable exception is that tenants cannot pursue a warranty-of-title claim against the new owner based on the original lease.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who acquire real estate subject to existing leases should be aware that N.J.S.A. 46:8-1 et seq. § 46:8-3 binds them to the terms of those leases just as the original landlord was bound. Compliant operators typically review all existing lease agreements before completing a property acquisition so they understand the obligations they are assuming. Successors in interest generally honor lease conditions and covenants as written, since tenants retain full enforcement rights against the new owner.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.J.S.A. 46:8-1 et seq. § 46:8-3 preserves a tenant's ability to enforce lease terms even when the property is sold or transferred to a new owner. If a new landlord fails to honor conditions or covenants in an existing lease, tenants generally have the same legal remedies available to them as they would have had against the original landlord. Tenants who believe their lease rights are being disregarded after a property transfer may consider consulting a tenant-rights organization or seeking legal guidance to understand available enforcement paths.
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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