In New Jersey, tenants are protected from eviction without cause. To begin the eviction process, you must have cause to evict, and match that cause to the correct pre-eviction notice. Depending on the reason for the eviction, you may be required to provide notice between a couple days and a couple months.
Some landlords may be tempted to speed the process along by using the shortest notice-to-evict they can find, but this is more dangerous than simply choosing the right one. If you don’t give the right amount of notice, the eviction can be tied up in courts for years, or entirely rejected. Instead of risking all of your work, talk to an attorney about choosing the right one.
Common Eviction Notices
Here are some (but not all) of the eviction notices that may be used in New Jersey:
3-Day Eviction Notice: You can use the 3-day eviction notice when you can prove damage and destruction to the property, or in cases where the tenant has been convicted of drug offense or has threatened you personally. This notice is designed to protect landlords from imminent damages, and can usually only be used in those types of situations.
30-Day Eviction Notice: The 30-day notice is one of the most frequently used. You can use it for all general lease violations.. These violations may include misuse of the property, refusal to maintain or refusal to pay rent. You cannot always proceed with the eviction if the tenant corrects the violation. It’s also the best notice if the tenant refuses to sign on to new lease terms after the original lease has ended.
18-Month Notice: This is one of the longest-term notices, but that’s because it’s one of the notices used when the tenant hasn’t violated the lease. This notice can be used when you do not have cause to evict, but are preparing the structure for a use other than as a residential property. For example, if you are going to tear down the building or convert it to a business.
Sample Eviction Notices
You must create an eviction notice and present it to your tenant before you can begin eviction proceedings. In some cases, additional notices are also necessary to make the eviction valid. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the law before you decide which notice you should send. If you send the wrong one, or send one that doesn’t meet the right legal qualifications, you may have to start over again. You can see samples of evictions, here.
It’s understandable if you’re having trouble creating eviction notices, especially when it comes to emotionally complicated situations, such as writing eviction notices for family members. In cases like these, it can be a relief to hand the duty over to an experienced eviction attorney. Landlords have rights, and we can help you enforce them and regain control of your property. Call now or contact us for a consultation on evictions.