N.J. DCA Landlord/Tenant Information Series — (English)

Citation
N.J. DCA Landlord/Tenant Information Series — (English)
Jurisdiction
New Jersey (state)
Source
Official source
Original Source
https://www.nj.gov/dca/codes/publications/pdf_lti/t_i_r.pdf ↗

Related Parts of This Source

Full Text

1,708 chars 
who may or may not enter the dwelling unit
(N.J.S.A. 2A-39-1).
A landlord shall be guilty of an unlawful entry and detainer if they enter the rental premises
peacefully or forcibly and then detain or keep possession of the property or take the property by
force, the threat of force, or remove the tenant’s personal property without consent of the tenant or
a judgment from the Superior Court of New Jersey. With the exceptions noted above, if a landlord
enters a tenant’s unit while the tenant is not home, without the tenant’s permission, it is forceable
entry (N.J.S.A. 2A:39-2). If a tenant willfully and without force holds over or remains at the
property after they have been given a written notice demanding delivery of possession (Notice to
Quit) of the rental premises from the tenant to the landlord, the tenant shall be guilty of an unlawful
detainer. If the tenant is found guilty of an unlawful detainer, the tenant shall pay the landlord
double the rent for the holdover time that the tenant possesses the premises (N.J.S.A. 2A:39-2).
Filing a complaint for unlawful entry and detainer
Any legal action for a forcible unlawful entry and detainer, forcible detainer, and unlawful
detainer shall be brought before the Superior Court, and the court may hear and make a
determination in that action. If a landlord enters the rental premises unlawfully, a trespass
complaint may be filed by the tenant with the local police department, under the New Jersey
Criminal Code for “defiant trespass” (N.J.S.A. 2A:39-6).
A tenant or landlord depending on the judge’s decision shall be entitled to possession of
the real property and shall recover all damages that may have been caused by the unlawful entry