N.J. Stat. Ann. § 46:8-1 et seq. § 46:8-6
Injuries by fire to buildings on leased premises; repair by landlord
Operative Text
Whenever any building or buildings erected on leased premises shall be injured by fire, without the fault of the lessee, the landlord shall repair the same as speedily as possible. In default of such repair the rent shall cease until such time as the building or buildings shall be put in complete repair. This section shall not extend or apply to cases wherein the parties have otherwise stipulated in their agreement of lease.
Under N.J.S.A. 46:8-1 et seq. § 46:8-6, when a building on leased premises is damaged by fire through no fault of the tenant, the landlord is required to make repairs as quickly as possible. If the landlord fails to complete those repairs, the tenant's obligation to pay rent is suspended until the building is fully restored. This rule applies unless the lease agreement itself contains a different arrangement that the parties have agreed to in writing.
Plain English — not legal advice.
N.J.S.A. 46:8-1 et seq. § 46:8-6 places a prompt repair obligation on landlords when a leased building suffers fire damage that is not attributable to the tenant. Compliant property owners and managers generally document the damage immediately, engage contractors without delay, and track repair progress to demonstrate that restoration is proceeding as speedily as possible. Landlords who wish to allocate fire-repair responsibilities differently should be aware that the statute permits alternative arrangements only when those terms are expressly set out in the lease agreement itself.
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. § 46:8-6 establishes that a tenant's rent obligation can cease if a landlord fails to promptly repair fire damage that occurred without the tenant's fault. Tenants in this situation may have grounds to raise the landlord's failure to repair as a defense in any rent-collection proceeding, or to file a complaint with a local housing authority or rent board. Consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with New Jersey housing law can help tenants understand what options may be available under this provision and whether any lease language affects those rights.
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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