New Jersey Statutes Title 2A. Administration of Civil and Criminal Justice 2A § 42-85

a. Many citizens of the State of New Jersey are required to reside in dwelling units which fail to meet minimum standards of safety and sanitation;

b. It is essential to the health, safety and general welfare of the people of the State that owners of substandard dwelling units be encouraged to provide safe and sanitary housing accommodations for the public to whom such accommodations are offered;

c. It is necessary, in order to insure the improvement of substandard dwelling units, to authorize the tenants dwelling therein to deposit their rents with a court appointed administrator until such dwelling units satisfy minimum standards of safety and sanitation;

d. It is necessary to establish an efficient procedure whereby public officers, tenants and utility companies may act to stop and prevent wrongful diversion of utility services and thereby protect both the utility companies and their customers from fraud.