Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in New Jersey

Renting a house that needed repairs some very serious that landlord would not perform....sent a letter to landlord about withholding rent until repairs were made. LL came to home without any notice harrassing us about the rent and repairs she wasn't going to do just because we said so....end up having to call the cops on her...this was on a Sunday...Monday was a holiday and cops told us to go file suit on her Tuesday. Now she knew that we were going to do this. We went up to Municiple to see if we could get an inspection on the house and health inspector and we were told there that the property wasn't even registered. Later that day the Lady from the office called us and told us the landlord just registered the property but it had to pass inspection before she could get a C.O. We just the the report back and she has many repairs to do and she needs permits for a bathroom and the basement bedroom. She just texted us on the cell phone yesterday to tell us she wants us out her house by November. She came over the house today Saturday morning at 9am with police to try to get in the house to make window repairs without any notice at all and its not an emergency repair...this could be done during the week with reasonable at a reasonable time. I'm in the middle of trying to get my daughter who has cerebral palsy clean and dress when I had to leave her upstairs not finished to deal with this. What can I do? She is harrassing us and now wants us out "her" house in 30 days because we wanted repairs done and now she has to do it or she will be fined by the courts. It's very stressful and we just moved here in July this year and already we have to move...it's not easy to move with kids as it is but I have to kids and my daughter has cerebral palsy and it not easy moving her around especially with the schools and all. She missed two weeks of the extended school year program because of this move. I need to know what I can do. By the way the rent I'm withholding is in an escrow account and she knows this I put the name the bank in the letter so she knows we have her money she just wants us out her house now because she is mad and she knows we have a disable child.


Asked on 10/02/10, 7:47 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jonathan Mincis Jonathan J. Mincis, Esq. Law Offices

You have raised many issues, has she sent you a certifed letter asking you to vacate within thirty days? If she is trying to evict you for nonpayment of rent and you come to Court showing that you have the money, but are withholding because the issues that she is failing to correct makes it difficult to live at the property, that is a defense. Are you the only people living in the house or are there other tenants living there? She cannot just get rid of you, you may have several defenses when she takes you to Court. feel free to call with any questions (201)-894-9498

Read more
Answered on 10/07/10, 4:03 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Landlord & Tenants questions and answers in New Jersey