Deadline Looms For Hoboken Rent Control Referendum Vote: See Details

HOBOKEN, NJ — An important election looms in Hoboken in November for both landlords and renters — but some renters, because they're, well, renters, may have moved to town in the last few years and not registered here.

If you want to vote in Hoboken, you must change your registration to a Hoboken address. by Oct. 15.

Besides voting for president and other officials such as school board, Hoboken voters have the chance to answer a public question.

READ MORE: Wording On Rent Referendum Clarified

READ MORE: Hoboken Council Votes On Rent Control Plan After 4 Hours Of Comments

Question On The Hoboken Ballot

The question is about rent control — a 51-year-old Hoboken law that keeps rent increases on older buildings to the cost of living adjustment, but has various exceptions.

For instance, the law allows landlords to raise the rent up to 25 percent at most ever three years if a tenant leaves voluntarily. There are other costs landlords can pass along.

A landlord advocacy group, headed by a public relations professional who has fought rent control in other towns, says the law is out of date and doesn't allow landlords enough money to keep up their units. Tenants say that with rents rising sharply in Hoboken — the city has among the highest rents in the nation — residents need to be able to afford to stay.

The question on the ballot this year asks whether the city should pass a law allowing a one-time vacancy decontrol if a tenant moves out and a landlord pays a fee. This would allow the landlord to raise the rent any amount. Some say it will result in tenants being unfairly pressured out of their homes, as some already have been.

Tenant advocates want voters to say "No." Landlord/property owner advocates want voters to say "Yes."

It's a complicated issue — so read more about it, and a recent city hearing on the matter, here.

So When Do You Have To Register?

Those who want to register to vote in Hoboken must do so by Oct. 15, 2024. See the timeline for the general election here.

Early voting begins Oct. 26. See the New Jersey voter information portal and election timelines here.

Read the wording on the ballot. READ MORE: Wording On Rent Referendum Clarified