ASSEMBLY HOUSING COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4446

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 13, 2024

      The Assembly Housing Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4446.

      This bill is intended to protect renters of seasonal rental units, such those rented through platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo and through more traditional vacation rental arrangements, who may have pet allergies, from unexpected exposures to spaces recently occupied by pets. 

      This bill requires the owner of a seasonal rental unit to notify a prospective renter, prior to contracting for an accommodation, if a pet is regularly present, or will be present within two weeks preceding the scheduled stay of the prospective renter.  The bill entitles a renter of a seasonal rental unit to sever the contract for the accommodation, and receive a full reimbursement of any payment made, if the owner fails to notify the renter, in violation of the bill.  In order to benefit from these protections, the bill requires the renter to notify the owner within 12 hours of first entering the accommodation of the renter’s decision to vacate early due to a purported violation.

      The bill provides that a licensee of the New Jersey Real Estate Commission, acting as an agent of the owner, is not to be liable for information that is required to be disclosed by an owner, but was not provided to the licensee.

      This bill directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of the bill on or before January 1, 2025.  The bill would take effect on January 1, 2025.