New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 5 - COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Chapter 27 - REGULATIONS GOVERNING ROOMING AND BOARDING HOUSES
Subchapter 3 - RIGHTS OF RESIDENTS
Section 5:27-3.1 - Enumeration of rights

1. To manage his or her own financial affairs;

2. To wear his or her own clothing;

3. To determine his or her own dress, hairstyle, or other personal effects according to individual preference;

4. To retain and use his or her personal property in his or her immediate living quarters, so as to maintain individuality and personal dignity, except where the licensee can demonstrate that such would be unsafe, that it would be impractical or would infringe upon the rights of others and that mere convenience is not the licensee's motive in restricting this right;

5. To receive and send unopened correspondence;

6. To have unaccompanied access to a telephone at a reasonable hour (but not the right to make toll calls at any other person's expense) and to have a private telephone at his or her own expense;

7. To privacy;

8. To retain the services of his or her own personal physician at his or her own expense or under a health care plan and to confidentiality and privacy concerning his or her medical condition and treatment;

9. To unrestricted communication, including personal visitation, with any person of his or her choice, at any reasonable hour;

10. To make contacts with the community and to achieve the highest level of independence, autonomy and interaction with the community of which he or she is capable;

11. To present grievances on behalf of himself or herself or others to the licensee, governmental agencies or other persons without reprisal or threat of reprisal in any form or manner whatsoever;

12. To a safe, healthful and decent living environment and considerate and respectful care that recognizes the dignity and individuality of the resident;

13. To refuse to perform services for the licensee except pursuant to a bona fide contract between resident and licensee, such contract, in the case of a resident who is at least 62 years of age or has any physical or mental disability, to be in writing and witnessed by a representative of the county welfare board or of any other social service agency having responsibility for such resident;

14. To practice the religion of his or her choice, including the right to have adequate substitutes provided for foods or combinations of foods which the resident's religious beliefs forbid him or her to eat, or to abstain from religious practice;

15. To not be deprived of any constitutional, civil or legal right solely by reason of residence in a rooming or boarding house.