Corporate Landlord's Objection To Rent Control Is Dismissed, City Of Hoboken Says

HOBOKEN, NJ — As Hoboken tenants faced steep rent increases in the last few years — some as high as 25 percent — the city has informed some corporate landl0rds that they never filed the correct paperwork to be exempt from local rent control, or didn't follow laws related to their rent increases.

Now, a judge has agreed in one case, the city says.

Hoboken officials announced Monday that a federal court "dismissed in its entirety" a lawsuit filed by the ownership of The Jordan, an apartment complex in western Hoboken.

The lawsuit from the Jordan, first reported by Patch, was meant to fight a ruling by the city's Rent Control Board determining that the building falls under rent control. READ MORE: 3 Landlords Sue Hoboken Over Rent Rulings

Hoboken's longstanding Rent Control Ordinance limits many buildings in town to rent increases of a few percent a year, but landlords can file for various exceptions (read more here).

Rent control often applies to older buildings in the city, as the newer ones could have applied for a state exemption starting in 1987. But some corporate landlords who bought buildings in town have been unable to find proof that the builders applied on time, or have not proved that they complied with the protocols of the exemption. For instance, they're required to notify tenants of the state exemption.

The city gave this timeline of events leading to the judgment:

Timeline Of Events

• On Sept. 13, 2023, the Rent Leveling & Stabilization Board determined the property, located at 1200 Clinton St., was subject to rent control because tenants were not provided with sufficient notice that the property was exempt from rent control or rent leveling in compliance with the City of Hoboken’s Municipal Rent Control Ordinance.
• In January of 2024, LPF 1200 Clinton Equity, LLC, the owner of the building, filed its initial suit against the city and the Board challenging the Board’s determination. In April of 2024, the property owners filed an Amended Complaint which the city and Board challenged each filing Motions to Dismiss.
• On Jan. 14, 2025, United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey William J. Martini issued an order to dismiss the case, and in doing so, upheld the Board’s decision that the property was subject to rent control due to the landlord’s failure to provide the required notice of exemption to tenants.

Read prior reporting on the matter from Patch.

How High Is Too High?

Aside from local rent control, the state of New Jersey says that rents increases can't be "unconscionable," but relies on tenants to head to court to challenge a high increase.

Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla — who has fought against high increases from corporate landlords — said of the recent judgment, “For years, my administration has invested in housing affordability and fighting corporate landlords who jack up rents and price out tenants from their apartments in Hoboken. This ruling by the federal court is a major victory for tenants in Hoboken."

He added, "The Jordan corporate landlord’s attempt at ‘forum shopping’ was an abject failure, as the Court tossed their claims in its entirety and didn’t even entertain their arguments. The City of Hoboken will continue to enforce its rent control ordinance to protect the residents of the Jordan.”

Bhalla added, “I want to assure Hoboken tenants that we will continue to aggressively defend against corporate landlord attempts to gauge rents and displace families in our community.”

“I am thrilled for the residents of The Jordan who have been fighting for years for their homes for legal Rent Control protections to apply,” said 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen, whose ward includes The Jordan.

The city of Hoboken continues to offer free legal services to Hoboken tenants in need. Any Hoboken resident having an issue related to tenancy or housing matters can contact Hoboken’s tenant advocate, Andrew Sobel, Esq. who is available by appointment. Go to https://sobelhancannonllp.simplybook.me/v2/.

Those seeking an appointment should provide a description of the issue in advance, the city said.

Read Patch's prior reporting on rent control and "unconscionable" rents in Hoboken here.