N.J. Stat. Ann. § 55:13A-1 et seq. § 55:13A-2
Declaration of policy; liberal construction
Operative Text
This act being deemed and hereby declared remedial legislation necessary for the protection of the health and welfare of the residents of this State in order to assure the provision therefor of decent, standard and safe units of dwelling space, shall be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes and intent thereof. L.1967, c. 76, s. 2, eff. May 31, 1967.
Section 55:13A-2 of New Jersey's Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law establishes the foundational policy behind the entire statute: it is remedial legislation designed to protect the health and welfare of New Jersey residents by ensuring that dwelling units meet decent, standard, and safe conditions. Because the law is classified as remedial, courts and agencies are directed to interpret its provisions broadly and generously, favoring readings that advance the statute's protective purposes over narrower or more restrictive ones. This construction principle can affect how ambiguous provisions elsewhere in N.J.S.A. 55:13A-1 et seq. are applied in practice.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under N.J.S.A. 55:13A-1 et seq. should be aware that § 55:13A-2 signals that regulators and courts will read the statute's requirements expansively rather than narrowly. Compliant operators generally maintain dwelling units to a standard that reflects the law's stated goal of decent, safe, and standard housing, rather than looking for technical loopholes in ambiguous language. Understanding this liberal-construction mandate helps operators anticipate how inspectors and adjudicators may approach borderline compliance questions under the broader statute.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 55:13A-2 establishes that the Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law exists specifically to protect residents' health and welfare, and that its provisions are to be read broadly in favor of that protective purpose. Tenants who believe a landlord has failed to maintain decent, safe, or standard dwelling conditions may find that this liberal-construction principle supports a broad reading of their rights under N.J.S.A. 55:13A-1 et seq. General enforcement paths can include raising violations with local housing inspectors, contacting the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with the statute.
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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