If you are a landlord in New Jersey, you may find yourself in a situation where you must evict a tenant. Here are a few important things to know when it comes to evicting tenants in New Jersey, as explained by our experienced Jersey City Landlord Tenant Lawyer.
Evicting Tenants in New Jersey | How Long Does It Take?
The length of time required to evict a tenant varies because different counties carry widely different caseloads. In Northern New Jersey, where my practice is located, Hudson, Essex, and Union Counties have the state’s densest populations. Because of that, just getting a court date for an eviction complaint can typically take two to three weeks. In other counties, where the number of evictions is much smaller, that time can be as short as ten days.
Evicting Tenants in New Jersey | How Much Does It Cost?
Depending on the reason the eviction is being sought, the associated costs can vary substantially. While most landlord-tenant evictions are based on non-payment of rent, others are based on specific lease variations. Depending on the circumstances, a tenancy eviction can cost as little as $750 or as much as several thousand dollars. The total depends on such factors as the complexity of the matter or whether it’s a commercial eviction or a residential eviction.
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Evicting Tenants in New Jersey | Required Notice
The length of time for tenant notices may be different depending on the reason the landlord is pursuing an eviction. For instance, no notice is required in the case of non-payment of rent where the tenant has simply failed to pay rent. An eviction complaint may be filed with the Landlord-Tenant Court immediately and a non-paying tenant can be evicted forthwith.
If your tenant has engaged in conduct that violates the lease, your first requirement is to send them a Notice to Cease. That Notice advises the tenant that they are in violation of the lease, sets forth the specific lease provision they’ve violated, and advises them that they will receive a Notice to Quit and be evicted from the property if they continue to violate the lease. If, the tenant continues to violate the lease after having received a Notice to Cease, the landlord may send a Notice to Quit. The time period contemplated in a Notice to Quit is usually 30 days. After that time – if the tenant remains in the apartment or on the premises – the landlord can file a conviction complaint in Landlord-Tenant Court.
In certain instances, other than non-payment of rent, a landlord need not wait 30 days, while in some other scenarios a 60-day notice is required. For example, destruction of the landlord’s property has occurred because the tenant has recklessly or negligently damaged the landlord’s property, the tenant could possibly be issued a three-day Notice to Quit. If the tenant continues to remain in the premises after that notice is filed, the landlord can promptly file an eviction complaint.
If you are having any difficulties with evicting tenants in New Jersey, please contact our experienced Jersey City Landlord Tenant Lawyers today for a free case review.