ROOMS FOR  RENT

RESIDENT’S RENTAL AGREEMENT

Beginning on____________ I, __________________________________________________ hereinafter referred to as the tenant, agree to rent from ___________________________________ hereinafter referred to as the landlord, a unit located at ______________________________________________________________________.   Rent shall be paid in advance, in the amount of $__________________ per (week/month).  I also agree to pay $__________________as a security deposit. Air Conditioner  is  /  is not included as part of the rent.                                                                      Additional terms: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

The terms of this agreement will remain in effect on a month-to-month basis as long as the tenant resides at the property.  The landlord reserves the right to require an updated agreement to be signed at any time during a tenant's stay.  

1. Furnished room:  all rooms are furnished.  Tenants may not remove furniture belonging to the room or bring in their own furniture unless written consent has been granted.  All furniture, including the bedding, is inspected before occupancy.  Any damaged item beyond ordinary wear and tear will be immediately due as additional rent.   

2. Air conditioners:  If an air conditioner is included as part of the written agreement, then there will be no charge for usage.  If it is not included as part of the written agreement, then a usage surcharge of $12.00 per room per week for rooms less than 125 sq.ft. Or $15 per room per week for rooms larger than 125 sq.ft. Those who decide to use their own A.C. will be charged $5 per week for utility usage.  All A.C. surcharges are immediately due as additional rent prior to the usage.  The landlord is not obligated to provide an air conditioner upon request.   

3. NO SMOKING INDOORS; MARIJUANA PROHIBITED; OPEN FLAMES:  Indoor Smoking Prohibited:  Smoking, vaping, or burning of any substance is strictly prohibited inside the building, including but not limited to individual rooms, common areas, hallways, bathrooms, and fire escapes. This prohibition applies to all substances, including tobacco, marijuana, controlled substances, and any other material.  Smoking is permitted only outdoors and must occur at least 20 feet away from the building and any entrances, windows, or ventilation openings.  Evidence of smoking or burning inside the building, including but not limited to the presence of smoke, ashes, burn marks, residue, or persistent odor, shall constitute a violation of this policy.  Marijuana Policy (Property-Wide Ban on Use):  The smoking, vaping, burning, or use of marijuana in any form that produces odor is strictly prohibited anywhere on the property, including inside the building and all exterior areas.  Possession of marijuana in compliance with New Jersey law is permitted; however, any marijuana kept on the property must be stored in sealed, airtight containers and must not produce any odor detectable outside of the occupant’s room.  Open Flames:  Candles, incense, and any open-flame devices are strictly prohibited and may not be used or stored on the property.  ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES:  Any violation of this clause shall constitute a material breach of the rental agreement. The landlord may issue a written Notice to Cease for a first violation. Repeated or continued violations shall result in a Notice to Quit and may lead to termination of tenancy and eviction in accordance with New Jersey law.  Landlord reserves the right to charge the tenant for any costs associated with cleaning, deodorizing, fire damage, or remediation caused by violations of this policy.

4. NO COOKING:  No cooking is permitted in the units. No use of hot plates, electric frying pans, toasters, coffee makers, grills, or any other cooking or heating equipment, other than a microwave, is allowed.  Cooking in the premises puts all residents at risk of fire and will be treated as a fire code violation.  Cooking violates the NJ State Fire Code and the Hackensack Fire Department.  

5. LOITERING:  No resident or guest may loiter at the entrance or front porch of this property.  No resident may block the street, make unsolicited comments or gestures, leer, or otherwise prevent others from passing peacefully in front of this building.  

6. NO GUESTS:  Any person who is not a tenant and is found on the property is considered Trespassing.  

7. MINIMUM CLOTHING REQUIREMENTS:  Residents must be properly covered in all common areas on the property.  Residents may not dress “topless” or “bottomless”, or wear anything that exposes their private parts (intentionally or not).

8. NOISE:  No loud music, yelling, foul language, door slamming, or any other noise that disturbs other residents is permitted at any time. Any sound that travels through floors, into common areas, or into other units is prohibited.  Residents will respect their neighbors and observe “Quiet Hours” from 9:00 pm to 9:00 am.  No parties or excessive drinking are permitted in the units and will be grounds for eviction.  Tenants shall not leave unit doors open to common areas.  All exterior doors must remain closed at all times.

9. MAINTENANCE OF ROOMS:  No accumulation of newspapers, food, garbage, flammable materials, bodily waste, or other debris in the rooms.  If a resident fails to correct an unclean or dangerous condition after written notice, the licensed owner and/or landlord may (1) remove any accumulation from the room that attracts vermin or poses a health or fire hazard and demand reimbursement from the resident (at a minimum rate of $55.00 per hour; charged in half-hour increments) for the cost of removal which shall be immediately due as additional rent and/or (2) contract for professional remediation of the condition and demand reimbursement from the resident for the cost of such remediation which shall be immediately due as additional rent.  Tenants must notify the landlord if there are pests such as mice, roaches, bedbugs, etc are in their unit.  If a tenant does not notify the landlord or is responsible for bringing the pests to the property, an extermination fee of $150-$450 may be charged and immediately due as additional rent.

10. VIOLATIONS AND FINES:  All rooms are delivered to tenants clean and free of any violations.  If any room or common area is cited by any government agency for a fire, building, or health code violation, and the cause of that violation is an act (or failure to act) on the part of a resident, then it shall be the sole responsibility of the resident to immediately correct the violation and/or pay the fine in full due as additional rent.  If fines are imposed or a court appearance is required, the landlord may also require the resident to testify by subpoena.  In order to hold the resident responsible, the resident must first be notified in writing of the violation, provided instructions on how to correct the violation, and the date by which the situation must be corrected.  If the violation requires the work of professional contractors, then the licensed owner and/or landlord may contract for such professionals, and the actual cost shall be Due as additional rent.  The licensed owner and/or landlord may also provide his/her own labor at a rate of $55.00 per hour; charged in half-hour increments and demand payment from the resident for the cost of such remediation, which shall be immediately due as additional rent.

11. HYGIENE AND BATHROOM USAGE:  Residents must be considerate of their neighbors when using the shared bathrooms.  Tenant is required to use the bathroom closest to the unit unless it is occupied at the time of use.   Tenants must clean up after themselves each time they use the bathroom and remove all personal belongings.  Residents should restrict themselves to 15 minutes during busy times.  Residents must wear proper footwear at all times for their own protection as well as to prevent the spread of infections (do not walk the hallways barefoot).  Do not leave hair, toothpaste, or other personal residue.  Inspect the bathroom for accidental spills before you leave.  If paper towels are used for clean-up, they MUST be placed in the wastebasket, not flushed down the toilet.  Residents are specifically prohibited from washing their laundry in the bathroom sink, tub, or anywhere on the premises.  When residents clean their cooking and eating utensils, they must wipe all leftover food into the trash can in their room before they bring the utensils to the sink to wash them.  Any personal property left in any bathroom or any common area on the property will be disposed of.  If the bathroom or common area is misused,  or left in a dirty or unsanitary condition, then the landlord has the right to charge a fee due as additional rent to do the cleaning necessary to bring the area to its prior condition.    

12. PETS:  No pets of any kind are allowed on the premises.

13. WASTE OF UTILITIES AND/OR SERVICES:  Metered utilities, heating oil, or other services must not be wasted, misused, or otherwise abused; (for example, but not limited to) running an air conditioner while not occupying a room, tampering with thermostats, or leaving devices running while not in the room.  If, after written notice, a resident continues to waste utilities such as electricity, heat or water, then the licensed owner and/or landlord may immediately assess charges that reasonably reimburse for the waste and any consequential damages, which shall be due as additional rent.

14. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND DRUG ABUSE:  No illegal drug or paraphernalia possession, use, or sale on these premises.  Possession of prescription drugs without a prescription is a crime and indicative of drug abuse.  Police will be notified immediately.  Alcoholic beverages may not be consumed anywhere outside of the units.  If a tenant is found drinking or in possession of open containers outside of their unit, it will be treated as disorderly conduct.  parties or excessive drinking in the units will be grounds for eviction.    

15. PUBLIC SALES, ADVERTISING, AND BUSINESSES:  No resident may place signs offering merchandise or services for sale in their windows.  Residents are prohibited from offering merchandise for sale or conducting any business or enterprise on the property, sidewalk, or in front of the building.  Residents may not invite clients, customers, vendors, or any other business contacts to the building.  No resident may conduct a “garage sale”, “yard sale”, or any other event that invites the general public onto the premises.

16. BORROWING AND SOLICITING:  Do not lend or borrow anything from other residents.  The licensed owner and/or landlord will not assist any resident in gaining the return of anything lent to or borrowed from another resident for any reason.  It is a violation of house rules to go door-to-door trying to sell anything or borrow money from other residents.

17. KEYS AND LOCK-OUTS:  If a resident loses their keys, they may get a replacement copy from the owner and/or landlord for a fee of $10.00 per key.  Residents may not loan out room keys or make duplicate keys to be used by anyone other than the resident.  Residents may not change the locks or install additional locks anywhere on the premises.  If a resident installs locks without permission, the licensed owner and/or landlord will have the locks removed or replaced, and the entire cost of such removal and/or repair (at a minimum rate of $55.00 per hour; charged in half-hour increments) will be immediately due as additional rent.  The resident manager will provide access to a resident’s room, free of charge.  If getting locked out becomes a frequent issue (more than 2 times per month), there will be a $20 fee per lockout immediately due as additional rent.  Tenants are not to use the windows, emergency exits, or attempt to pry their doors open to enter their units. Any such action will be considered a violation of this lease.  

18. TRASH AND RECYCLING:  Residents are prohibited from placing their trash in the hallways or the bathroom wastebaskets.  A fee of $20 per occurrence will be due as additional rent for removing tenants' personal garbage from the bathroom trash can or common areas.  Residents must separate trash in accordance with the local recycling ordinance and put it in the proper receptacles provided on the outside of the premises.  Do not put large items at the curb as trash. 

19. ABANDONED PROPERTY:  If a resident moves out either voluntarily or as the result of eviction, any possessions left behind will immediately be packed up and temporarily stored on the property.  It will be considered abandoned after 30 days and become the property of the licensed owner and/or landlord, who shall dispose of abandoned property as it sees fit.

20. PARKING:  Parking on the premises is for residents only on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking on the premises is a privilege and may be taken away from tenant/ tenants at any time.  Limit: one vehicle per resident.  Spots are limited, therefore no tenant is guaranteed a spot.  Any vehicle parked on the property must be registered, inspected, and insured; proof must be presented to the licensed owner and/or landlord upon demand.  Parking is at your own risk; the licensed owner and/or landlord does not assume any liability for any vehicle or its contents.  Do not block in other cars.  No idling.  Trailers or commercial vehicles may not be parked on the premises without express permission from the licensed owner and/or landlord; this permission may be unreasonably withheld.  Any vehicle that violates these rules may be towed and impounded at the vehicle owner’s expense.  In the event that the tenant pays for parking and falls behind or stops paying, that amount becomes due as additional rent.

21. SECURITY CAMERAS:  These premises may be monitored by surveillance cameras, and all activities are recorded for the safety and security of all residents.  The cameras may be placed in any common area on the property.  Residents are on notice that such cameras may be installed and agree to be recorded by them.  Any recording of activity in the common areas may be shared with any government agency for law enforcement purposes, and /or the licensed owner and/or landlord may use such recordings as evidence to pursue civil, criminal, or eviction complaints against residents or trespassers.  Tampering with the cameras, cables, or recording equipment is a violation of the house rules and will be prosecuted as vandalism.

22. INSURANCE:  Neither the licensed owner and/or landlord carries insurance for any reason to protect your personal property wherever it may be stored on the premises.  Contact your own insurance agent for “renter’s insurance” protection at your own expense.

23. CONDEMNATION: If the premises or any part thereof shall be acquired or condemned by eminent domain proceeding, or by giving a deed in lieu of thereof, then and in that event, the term of this agreement shall cease and terminate the earlier of (i) thirty (30) days after landlord provides written notice to tenant of an acquisition or condemnation; or (ii) the date possession is taken by the condemning authority. In the event of a termination pursuant to this provision, tenant shall have no claim whatsoever against landlord including (without limitation) any claim for the value of any unexpired term of this agreement; nor shall tenant be entitled to claim or receive any portion of any amount that may be awarded as damages or paid as a result of such proceedings or as the result of any agreement made by thecondemning authority with landlord. Tenant shall assert no claim, including (without limitation) any claim for the value of any unexpired term of this agreement, against the condemning authority that may in any way impair or diminish landlord’s claims against such condemning authority.

24. RIGHT TO ENTER AND/OR INSPECT:  The licensed owner and/or landlord reserve the right to enter and/or inspect each room as often as is necessary to: (1) assure no damage is done to the room or the furnishings and that the resident is in conformance with the terms of this agreement. (2) Do emergency or ordinary repairs and maintenance. (3) Make sure the resident is making proper use of the premises. (4) Make sure the resident is complying with any provision of this agreement.    The licensed owner and/or landlord will give the resident advance notice of such inspections except when there is a reasonable suspicion that damage, or a violation of the house rules, is taking place by virtue of sounds or smells coming from the room in question.  Any inspection may include examination of walls, carpets, furnishings, appliances, windows, and bedding for signs of damage or abuse.  Photographs will be taken of violations or damages as evidence.

25. PAYMENTS:  Payments can either be paid weekly or monthly according to the agreement made.  The first payment, along with the security deposit, must be received in cash, money order, electronically, or cashier's check unless other arrangements are made.  Any rent payment made by check that is returned unpaid by the bank, for any reason, will cause the resident to be charged a $35.00 processing fee, which will be immediately due as additional rent.  The weekly rent is due every week on the day of the week that the tenant originally moved in, with a two-day grace period.  The monthly rent is due every month on the same day of the month that the tenant originally moved in, with a five-day grace period.  

26. LATE RENT AND NON-PAYMENT OF RENT: Any rent paid after the due date or grace period is considered late.  Late rents will be subject to a late fee of 10% of the amount due or a minimum of $20.00, whichever is greater, and immediately due as additional rent.  Late rent may not be paid by personal check.  If rent is late, payment must be made in the form of cash, certified check, money order, or electronically.  Late rent payments must include any and all additional rent or fees.  If rent is paid late, any money paid will be applied in the following order: (1) late fees and any additional rent, (2) bad check fees (if any), (3) legal costs, and then finally (4) back rent.  If legal action is filed against a resident for non-payment of rent, habitually late rent, or violation of the house rules, the licensed owner and/or landlord may demand an additional security deposit from the resident as a condition of continued occupancy.  The maximum security deposit allowed by law is one and a half months' rent (six weeks).  Failure to pay rent on time, in full, can be cause for eviction.  Violation of the house rules after written notice to stop the violation, the house rules can also be cause for eviction.  If legal action for eviction is started for any reason, the cost of the legal action will be due as additional rent.  The costs of the legal action may include filing fees, sheriff’s service, reasonable attorney’s fees, and any other expense necessary to evict or collect back rent.  The licensed owner and/or landlord may also include a reasonable $75.00 document preparation fee, due as additional rent, if it becomes necessary to file a summons and complaint against a resident.  After any legal action is started for unpaid rent, the resident can avoid eviction by paying all late fees, any additional rent (if any), bad check fees (if any), legal costs, and reasonable attorney’s fees, and back rent in full prior to a hearing in court.  Payment must be made in the form of cash, certified check, bank check, or money order.

27. NOTICES:  All written notices to the resident shall be deemed properly served and received if conspicuously posted on the resident’s door or personally served.  Certified mail shall not be required for any notice to cease or notice to quit.  All notices to the licensed owner and/or landlord shall be made in writing and mailed to the address printed at the top of this agreement or presented personally.

28. SAVING AND SEVERABILITY CLAUSE:  If any provision in this agreement is contrary to law, whether by statute or final court decision, the provision shall be considered amended as necessary to conform to legal requirements.  The rest of the agreement shall remain in full force and effect, unaffected by any such amendment.

29. Wi-Fi SERVICE: This is an added “Controlled Free Service”; you may access the Internet through an available Wi-Fi network connection.  Your use of this service is NOT unlimited, and we reserve the right to control access and use of this service in order to allow the greatest number of users to participate and prevent illegal activity.  In the event of abuse, this service may be withdrawn individually or in its entirety at the sole discretion of the owner.  Please note that if you wish to have uncontrolled access to the Internet, you should set up your own account at your own expense.  PASSWORD LOG-ON:  We may limit access by requiring that you log on to the Wi-Fi network.  The password may be changed from time to time, and you will be notified of the new password if your Internet access has not been withdrawn.  COMPUTER IDENTIFICATION: We may require that you register your computer on the network.  Any attempt to mask your computer or otherwise use the network anonymously will result in permanent withdrawal of service.  ADMINISTRATOR RIGHTS:  As the administrator and owner of the network, we reserve all rights to control your use of the Internet.  We may maintain logs of the sites you visit on the Internet. We may constrain access, limit the amount of time online, block selected websites, and restrict your Internet activities.  In the event of any illegal activities, we may provide your login information to any investigation authorities.  DOWNLOADING MOVIES, MUSIC, ETC.:  By signing this agreement, you acknowledge that downloading of music, films, broadcasts, etc., may be protected by copyright and other digital rights.  The use of “free” file-sharing sites, BitTorrent processes, and other programs designed to circumvent the rights of the copyright holders is PROHIBITED and constitutes abuse of this service.  These activities are a criminal act, and severe fines can be assessed for these violations of copyright.  As the network administrator, we reserve the right to install Internet filters that prevent access to file-sharing sites to whatever degree we deem necessary.  We may use the administrator log of sites visited to determine a violation of this prohibition.  If we identify such activity, your Internet access will be withdrawn. PORNOGRAPHY:  As the network administrator, we reserve the right to install Internet filters that prevent access to pornographic sites to whatever degree we deem appropriate.  If you visit pornographic sites that provide illegal materials, we will assist law enforcement in your identification and prosecution.  TELEPHONE BY INTERNET:  Residents are PROHIBITED from setting up telephone-by-internet accounts over the shared network.  We may use the administrator log of sites visited to determine violation of this prohibition or install Internet filters that restrict private access to voice-over-Internet sites to whatever degree we deem necessary.  CHAT ROOMS:  You should be cautious about the use of chat rooms and other interactive communication sites.  Never assume that you are communicating with the person they claim to be.  Be careful about arranging in-person meetings; you should always meet in a public place for your own protection.  INTERNET SCAMS: We only provide Internet access as a “controlled Free Service” for your use.  We assume no liability for any activity you undertake online or in the real world.  Be cautious about offers of money, sex, partnerships, or any other business transaction that you have not investigated thoroughly.  Remember: if an offer is too good to be true, it probably is.  RIGHT TO END THIS SERVICE:  The management reserves the right to terminate this service at any time, for any reason.  This “controlled Free Service” is not offered as an inducement for you to rent a furnished room at this location.  If this “controlled Free Service” is withdrawn, you acknowledge that its withdrawal is not a reduction in services under your rental agreement, and your rent will not be compensated for the loss of this “Controlled Free Service”. 

30.  STORAGE PROHIBITED:  Tenant agrees to use the rental unit exclusively for residential purposes and to store only personal property necessary for day-to-day living. The unit shall not be used for the storage of excessive items, hazardous materials, or any items not commonly associated with residential use. Tenant agrees that motorized and non-motorized vehicles or devices, including but not limited to motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, e-bikes, and similar items, are prohibited within the building.

31. TERMINATION OF RENTAL:  Residents must live at the premises for a minimum of  12 weeks before giving Notice of Termination.  Any stays shorter than 12 weeks will be considered short-term and are subject to short-term rates.  Early termination fees are $50 for each week short of the 12 weeks. If a tenant plans to stay long-term and leaves before 12 weeks, they will be charged for a short-term stay, and the difference can be paid directly or deducted from the security deposit.  Residents must give the licensed owner and/or landlord three weeks' notice of Termination before moving out.  During these 3 weeks or upon receipt of notice of termination of the rental, the owner and/or landlord will be entering the room and showing it to potential tenants during reasonable times.  If a 3-week notice is not given, the 3 weeks will be deducted from the security deposit unless a replacement tenant is found.  A tenancy will also be considered terminated when a court grants a judgment for Possession.  Upon moving out, the rental unit must be handed over to the landlord in the same condition as received.  A cleaning fee of $50 to $150 will be Due as additional rent, and deducted from the security deposit for any room left unclean.  An additional night will be charged and immediately due as additional rent if a tenant vacates the unit past 11:00 am on the agreed-upon move-out date.  A deposit to reserve a unit is non-refundable.