State Specific Question About: NEW JERSEY (NJ)

I’m a new landlord in Lake Hopatcong NJ and have a tenant living in my former house, they recently told me that they intend to move out at the end of next month and I’m worried that they might try to use the security deposit as their last months rent.

I’m trying to decide what to do to make sure their payments remain up to date and that they return my house in the condition which it was originally rented, but I don’t know how much of a hassle or expense processing an eviction in Morris County (Lake Hopatcong) could be. Can anyone advise, and as always thanks for your help.

I don't know NJ law, but the general recommendation is that if they fail to pay the last month's rent on time, you serve a __ Day Notice To Pay Rent Or Quit. Pursue it aggressively, because tenants normally want to use their SD as their last month's rent. You need to stop that through legal action ASAP, because otherwise, they win, and you are left without any security for damages.

our last tenant tried that and we purued the matter the second that the rent was late.

You will first appear before a mediator and rarely , if ever, get to see an actual judge.

In Mediation their case lasted about 30 seconds. "Did you pay the rent or not" was the fonly thingg tat concerned the Mediator.

OH!

BE SURE that you areproperly REGISTERED as a landlord otherwise you will lose the case. NOT a CO, but registered. Do so with the Clerk off yourr town.

Rent is rent and the SD is for damages.

AFTER they are out the damages done [if any and not wear & tear] are deductible and then any unpaidd rent is damages.

Go to lsnjlaw [Dot Com] a site for tenants and read it. It will help you learn their rights and conversely yours as well.

Frank, I think it matter which county you're in. I'm in Hudson county and you only need to show the state registration certificate if it's a multi-family over 3 units, otherwise nothing.