NCJAR News
Finding the right tenant is one of the most important steps in the rental process, but it also comes with significant legal responsibilities. To help real estate professionals navigate tenant screening with confidence, NJ Realtors® Member Perks Partner, RentSpree, has released a free Tenant Screening Guidebook designed to simplify the process while remaining compliant with the Fair Housing Act.
The guidebook offers tips and tools to help REALTORS® create a consistent, professional, and legally sound screening process. Whether you are managing rentals regularly or occasionally helping clients, this resource can help reduce risk and improve efficiency.
Why Fair Housing Compliance Matters
Tenant screening decisions must be applied consistently and fairly to all applicants. Violations of Fair Housing laws can create legal and reputational challenges for agents, brokers, and property owners.
RentSpree’s guidebook outlines:
- Best practices for tenant screening
- How to apply consistent criteria
- Common compliance pitfalls to avoid
- Ways to improve transparency and efficiency during the rental process
New Jersey Realtors® members are invited to attend a special advocacy event at the State House in Trenton, where New Jersey’s top elected officials have been invited to speak on issues impacting the real estate industry, homeownership, and private property rights.
This REALTORS-only event offers members the opportunity to hear directly from policymakers and engage in conversations about the legislative decisions shaping the future of real estate across New Jersey.
Attendees will also have the chance to connect with fellow real estate professionals from across the state while learning more about the important role advocacy plays in protecting the interests of REALTORS® and property owners.
Event Schedule
Shuttle Service Opens
8:30 AM
NJ REALTORS® Headquarters
10 Hamilton Avenue
Trenton, NJ 08611
New Jersey REALTORS® and brokerages should be aware of major updates coming to the state’s independent contractor rules. On May 5, 2026, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) formally adopted regulations clarifying how the state applies the “ABC test” when determining whether a worker is considered an independent contractor or an employee. The regulations are scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2026.
For industries like real estate that rely heavily on independent contractors, these changes are drawing significant attention.
What Is the ABC Test?
New Jersey already uses the ABC test to determine worker classification under laws including the:
- New Jersey Unemployment Compensation Law
- Wage and Hour Law
- Wage Payment Law
Under the ABC test, workers are presumed to be employees unless the business can prove all three of the following:
U.S. existing-home sales fell 3.6% month-over-month and 1.0% year-over-year to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.98 million, according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), as tight supply and ongoing affordability challenges constrained activity. Sales declined month-over-month in all four regions. Year-over-year, sales increased in the South and West but fell in the Midwest and Northeast.
- Single Family Closed Sales were down 11.7 percent to 1,076.
- Townhouse-Condo Closed Sales were up 0.3 percent to 355.
- Adult Communities Closed Sales were up 16.7 percent to 49.
