7. The owner of any building or structure in a qualified county who seeks to convert any premises shall notify the administrative agency of that intention prior to filing the application for registration of conversion with the department. The owner shall supply the administrative agency with a list of every tenant residing in the premises, with stamped envelopes addressed to each tenant and with sufficient copies of the notice to tenants and application form for protected tenancy status. Within 10 days thereafter, the administrative agency shall notify each residential tenant in writing of the owner’s intention and of the applicability of the provisions of this act and shall provide him with a written application form. The agency’s notice shall be substantially in the following form:

“NOTICE

THE OWNER OF YOUR APARTMENT HAS NOTIFIED ………………………….. (insert name of municipality) OF HIS INTENTION TO CONVERT TO A CONDOMINIUM OR COOPERATIVE.

UNDER STATE LAW YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO A PROTECTED TENANCY.

PROTECTED TENANCY MEANS THAT YOU CANNOT BE EVICTED BECAUSE OF THE CONVERSION.

YOU MAY BE QUALIFIED:

(1) IF YOU HAVE LIVED IN YOUR APARTMENT FOR A YEAR AND

(2) IF YOUR HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS LESS THAN ……………………………………… (insert current maximum qualifying income established under section 3 of this act), OR

YOU ARE DISABLED OR ARE AT LEAST 75 YEARS OLD.

IF YOU THINK YOU MAY QUALIFY, SEND IN THE APPLICATION FORM BY ………………….. (insert date 60 days after municipality’s mailing)

TO THE ……………………………………… (insert name and address of administrative agency)

EVEN IF YOU DO NOT QUALIFY, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN YOUR APARTMENT UNTIL YOUR LANDLORD HAS COMPLIED WITH LAWS REGARDING THE OFFER OF COMPARABLE HOUSING.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL………………. (insert phone number of administrative agency)

OR ……………………………………….” (insert phone number of Department of Community Affairs)

The department shall not accept any application for registration of conversion for any building or structure unless included in the application is proof that the administrative agency notified the tenants prior to the application for registration. The proof shall be by affidavit or in such other form as the department shall require.

In any municipality where the administrative agency is the same as the agency administering the “Senior Citizens and Disabled Protected Tenancy Act,” P.L.1981, c.226 (C. 2A:18-61.22 et al.), the notices required under that act and this act may be combined in a single mailing.

L.1991,c.509,s.7.