Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in New Jersey

Ex-girlfriend Won't Take Her Stuff

My girlfriend and her daughter moved in with me at the end of July 2007. It is my house, 100%. I purchased the house on my own years before I met her. She paid no rent and did not pay any utilities. A lease was never drawn.

We officially broke up on November 12th. She asked for ''a couple of weeks'' to move out. On November 29th, there was very little progress and I asked her to vacate by December 9th. She stopped ''living'' here but left almost all of her stuff. I have since carefully moved the bulk of her stuff to my large shed. She has access to that whenever she wants. I told her to get the stuff in the house, she needs to contact me first so I can let her in.

What can I do to force her to get her stuff off my property? Does she have any right to leave it here?

Thank you!


Asked on 12/15/07, 5:59 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
John Corbett Corbett Law Firm LLC

Re: Ex-girlfriend Won't Take Her Stuff

The safest way for you is to think of the situation as if she had been a paying tenant like any other. The NJ statutes provide for formal written notice to be sent to a departing tenant when property is left behind. After notice is given, the tenant has a limited time within which to reclaim the property. After that, if the property has not been reclaimed, the landlord may sell it for the tenant's account (less costs) or dispose of it when there is a practical reason why it cannot be sold. It would not be a good idea to take it for you own use unless you have purchased it at auction.

An experienced landlord/tenant lawyer will know the appropriate procedures. My firm handles matters of this type. If I can be of further help to you, call or email.

See also: http://info.corbettlaw.net/lawguru.htm

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Answered on 12/16/07, 10:36 am


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