Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in New Jersey

My neighbor has been harassing me from the start. She knocks on my door to complain about things like people knocking on my door yet she knocks on my door around 11am and 12am. She has complained in he past about another resident coming to my house everyday. The resident would come to my house and give me cat food because she likes my cats. I also have more cats then is allowed at the complex and she gave me up to the office and gave their names to the office. This neighbor continues to knock on my door and act like she is not the one who complained to he office about me and continues to ask my business. I feel harassed and threatened. Now I have an issue with the complex office who knows about my cats telling me to get rid of my cats or the lease will be terminated. And they are coming for inspection on the 12th. This neighbor continues o complain about things like knocking on my door at 12pm or 1pm because she is sleeping.

Or who is parking in the parking lot. She has threatened several times that she would get into the residents face if she comes here again. I cannot call he office because of he situation going on with my cats and I fear they will just not care and side with the neighbors. So what I'm asking is if I can doing anything about his neighbor. And also I want me cats to be safe. If I have to move I have to move. I know I broke he rules but I just moved here a couple months before those neighbors moved here. I had these cats all their lives and my family moved me and my mom in here but at the time I was in the hospital. This neighbor has looked in my windows everything. She listens to everything being said at my door that now I have to bring people in my house to talk to them or move away from view of her or speak quietly.

The office has sent animal control to my house twice already since the neighbors have told them I have more then the amount of cats allowed and I was feeding the strays. My mom is now in the hospital because she had a heart attack because these people felt it necessary to tell the office about my cats. We are nice people but these neighbors do no want us here. The want to get us evicted. They have made me feel like a horrible person and the neighbor and her mom who lives with her would intimidate me about the situation knowing that I had my cats and I shied away from causing too much of a scene near my apartment and they think I wont tell anyone.

I want my cats to be safe. I don't want them taken away from me. I spent a lot of money on getting them fixed and going to the vet to get check ups etc. These people did this for the purpose of getting us evicted. I don usually get so involved with people but it is pretty hard to when they are knocking on your door everyone single night to complain about something or somebody. Then they assume I'm some kind of idiot they can be phony to and bully around.


Asked on 9/06/14, 11:36 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Gleaner Robert A. Gleaner, P.C.

Let's deal with these issues separately. First of all, you have too many cats and you know it. So whether or not you have a neighbor who is harassing you, you are still required to follow the rules of the complex. It doesn't matter whether it was the harassing neighbor who brought it to the attention of the management or not. If you don't comply with their rules, you will need to leave. End of discussion. (By the way, maybe that is the better solution. It would get you away from the harassing neighbor).

The second issue is the neighbor. If she is harassing you, then you can file a Complaint alleging the harassment; this would ultimately be heard by the Municipal Judge, I cannot give you an opinion as to whether or not you would be successful in establishing harassment. That would be determined by the proofs brought at the time the matter is heard. However, this is what people should do if they believe they have probable cause to establish the harassment. And by the way, complaining to management that you have too many cats would not appear to be a form of harassment since, as you have admitted, you are indeed in violation of that rule.

Keep in mind that this advice is based purely on the little bit of information that you have given to me. There certainly may be other factors that would change my opinion. Further, no one can rely on advice from an attorney who has not been retained. You will only be able to rely on advice from an attorney who you have actually retained. Good luck! Rob Gleaner

Read more
Answered on 9/07/14, 9:06 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Landlord & Tenants questions and answers in New Jersey