NJ A6133

Establishes a Habitability Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Program within the Department of Community Affairs to provide tenant education on housing violations and fund litigation against landlords through public-private partnerships, with $5 million appropriated from the General Fund

Codifies the implied warranty of habitability in all residential leases and creates a private cause of action allowing tenants to sue landlords for unabated habitability violations after written notice and reasonable opportunity to cure

Requires landlords to designate a "principal agent" who can be held personally liable for up to $2,000 and charged with a disorderly persons offense for severe habitability violations, piercing typical corporate liability protections

Creates a statewide habitability database maintained by DCA to track code violations, citations, and court cases against rental properties, with contents serving as prima facie evidence in landlord-tenant proceedings

Awards tenants statutory damages of $1,000 for habitability violations or $2,000 plus treble damages for severe violations, along with attorney's fees, court costs, and expert witness expenses