Illegal Evictions and Lockouts in New Jersey
As a tenant in New Jersey you have a lot of rights in the situation that your landlord is trying to evict you without following protocol. They can be arrested and sent to prison if they don't follow the rules.
It is illegal for a landlord in New Jersey to evict a tenant in any way other than sending the proper notices and filing an eviction lawsuit. This includes changing the locks, removing your personal property, shutting off essential services like heat or electricity, or even doing or saying anything intending to make you fearful of staying in the property. If your landlord does any of these things then their efforts to evict you are illegal and you can call the police.
It is also illegal in New Jersey for a landlord to evict you as retaliation for exercising your rights. For example, if you try to enforce some right you have from your lease or from New Jersey law, or if you complain to a government agency about a health or safety code violation, your landlord might try to evict you as retaliation. Evicting a tenant based on race, religion, gender, familial status, or national origin is also a violation of the federal Fair Housing Act, and therefore illegal.
If your landlord tries to evict you illegally you should call the police. Under New Jersey law, the police must make sure you get back into your apartment. This is a criminal offense and could land your landlord in jail for up to six months. If your landlord evicts you as a form of retaliation or out of prejudice then you will have a valid defense to the eviction.
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The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice.