If the owner skips ordered repairs, the city can cap rent in buildings with 3+ units.
From Lakewood Township Code § 13-3.7 (1971 Code), read Oct 6, 2026.Show the law
“Failure to complete such repairs, alterations or improvements within a reasonable time as fixed by the Public Officer shall be cause to impose rent control on the substandard multiple dwelling …”
State law applies here too. Where both cover a rental, the stricter city rule usually wins; each rule below says so.
Lakewood lawDepends on the building
Lakewood Rent Control Code for Substandard Housing
How much can my rent go up?
Only limited if the building is substandard.
If the owner skips ordered repairs, the city can cap rent in buildings with 3+ units.
Depends on the number of units.
Who it covers
Buildings with 3 or more units.
Exemptions: Public housing and hotels, motels and guest houses are excluded from housing space.
The law, word for word
“Failure to complete such repairs, alterations or improvements within a reasonable time as fixed by the Public Officer shall be cause to impose rent control on the substandard multiple dwelling …”
Lakewood Rent Control Chapter (annual increase cap)
How much can my rent go up?
Max 6.5% a year, or 5% without heat.
Landlords must give 30 days' written notice showing how they figured the increase.
Depends on the year the building was built.
Who it covers
Not buildings less than 30 years old.
Not owner-occupied buildings with 4 units or fewer.
Exemptions: Hotels/motels/boarding houses; public housing; new construction for 7 years from initial CO (or as state law requires); existing space first placed on rental market (7 years); school dormitories; owner-occupied buildings of 4 or fewer units not part of a complex; non-profit-owned units; substantially rehabilitated buildings (5 years, on Board application); government-subsidized units partly.
The law, word for word
“Landlords who supply tenants with heat are hereinafter permitted to raise rents on rental units governed by this section once a year at a flat rate increase of six and one half (6.5%) percent over the previous base rent …”