New Jersey Lease Termination: One Month's Notice to End a Month-to-Month Tenancy

A periodic month-to-month tenancy in New Jersey is terminated by a written notice to quit given at least one month before the end of a rental period; courts require that a month-to-month tenancy be properly terminated under N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.2 before a possession action proceeds. A tenant may move out by giving a full month's notice. A landlord, however, faces the Anti-Eviction Act: for premises it covers, the landlord cannot remove the tenant simply by serving a notice to quit at lease-end. The landlord must also prove a statutory good cause under N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1, such as non-payment, disorderly conduct, lease breach, or owner move-in. For tenants outside the Act, such as an owner-occupied two-unit home, one month's notice ends the tenancy.

No specific statutory penalty. A notice to quit with the wrong length or timing is ineffective and deprives the court of jurisdiction, so the eviction or termination fails; for covered tenancies, the landlord must also establish good cause under the Anti-Eviction Act.