Legal Question in Real Estate Law in New Jersey

Hi,

I am tenant in a house that is short selling. This is in New Jersey. The closing should be next week. I have lease agreement for $900/mo for one year, which ends in June 2011, and there is no security deposit. The buyer of the house last week told me that she will raise the rent to $1350 and wants me on the day of closing to give her one rent of $1350 plus security deposit of month and a half - $2025. Otherwise she will evict me from the house. So all of a sudden I have to come up with total of $3375 for the next week, which is impossible for me. I have heard that there is some kind of law that protects tenants of distressed property (short sale, and foreclosure). Can you please let me know how protected I am with the lease agreement I have with the current owners. Thanks,

Ilinka


Asked on 12/04/10, 10:12 am

3 Answers from Attorneys
Robert Davies The Davies Law Firm, P.A.

I will assume that what you have said is correct, that you have stated the facts correctly. In that case, I can tell you:

Your landlord is completely wrong on this. A lease until June 2011 means you can stay in the apt. until June at the rent agreed on, $900.00, not a penny more.

She threatens to evict you? Please, call me and come see me. I will enjoy assisting you.

Your landlord is a bad person, and is demanding money that she has no right to demand.

You will not owe me any money until you and I agree on what I am going to do to help you, and how much you will pay me for it.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Robert Davies, Attorney 201 820 3460

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Answered on 12/09/10, 10:34 am
John Corbett Corbett Law Firm LLC

The landlord is acting improperly and you have statory protection against that. Ask the landlord to give you her demands in writing. Then bring those to a lawyer who does landlord/tenant law. Don't sign any new lease or pay any additional money without consulting a lawyer.

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

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Answered on 12/09/10, 10:36 am
Bernard J. Berkowitz Berkowitz & Raiken

If you have a written lease signed by the current owner, you are protected by law until the end ot the lease. Depending on the wording in the lease you may be required to pay up to 11/2 times your current rent for security, but your rent cannot be increased until the end of your lease. Any attempt by the new owner to do otherwise would not be supported by law. Ask for the new demands in writing and then bring them to a lawyer with a copy of the lease. If you mention Law Guru, I will not charge you for the first consultation.

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Answered on 12/09/10, 11:35 am


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