N.J. Stat. Ann. § 46:8-1 et seq. § 46:8-9.11

Disclosure of certain information by landlord prohibited; exceptions

In Force
Verified 10/6/2026 · Next check 11/5/2026
effective 10/6/2026New JerseyVAWA & Survivor Protections

Operative Text

N.J. Stat. Ann. § 46:8-1 et seq. § 46:8-9.11
8. A landlord shall not disclose information documenting domestic violence that has been provided to the landlord by a victim of domestic violence pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2008, c.111 (C.46:8-9.6). The information shall not be entered into any shared database or provided to any person or entity, but may be used when required as evidence in an eviction proceeding, action for unpaid rent or damages arising out of the tenancy, with the consent of the tenant, or as otherwise required by law.

L.2008, c.111, s.8.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Under N.J.S.A. 46:8-1 et seq. § 46:8-9.11, landlords are prohibited from sharing or entering into any shared database the domestic violence documentation that a tenant has provided under the statute's companion provisions. This confidentiality protection has narrow exceptions: the information may surface in an eviction proceeding or a claim for unpaid rent or damages, but only with the tenant's consent or as otherwise required by law. The rule is designed to ensure that a tenant's disclosure of domestic violence status to secure housing protections does not become a source of broader exposure.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 6, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Operators covered by N.J.S.A. 46:8-1 et seq. § 46:8-9.11 generally maintain strict internal controls over any domestic violence documentation received from a tenant, keeping it out of shared databases and away from third parties. Compliant property managers treat this documentation as confidential by default and obtain explicit tenant consent before referencing it in any legal proceeding, unless a court or other legal authority independently compels its disclosure. Maintaining clear written policies and staff training around this confidentiality obligation reflects the kind of operational practice consistent with the statute's requirements.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

N.J.S.A. 46:8-1 et seq. § 46:8-9.11 gives tenants who have disclosed domestic violence documentation to their landlord a right to have that information kept confidential and out of shared databases. If a landlord improperly shares or uses that information without consent, a tenant may raise that violation as a defense in related proceedings or file a complaint with a relevant New Jersey housing or civil rights authority. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with New Jersey's domestic violence housing protections can help a tenant understand the full range of options available under this provision.

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.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 6, 2026
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Related Rules

§ 25
Refusal of rental agreement or assistance based on termination of rental agreement under Sec. 24 or request for change of lock under Sec. 26 prohibited
§ 26
Change of locks upon request of tenant, co-tenant or household member believed to be under imminent threat of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or stalking
§ 47a-7b
Request to change dwelling unit locks when tenant is named as a protected person in a protective or restraining order.