How Much Notice is Required Prior to Evicting a Tenant?
In this video, Attorney Brian Freeman discusses how long it takes to evict a tenant in New Jersey. Contact one of our experienced Jersey City landlord tenant lawyers to help you through the process.
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Depending on the reason for the eviction, the length of time for notices to the tenant may be different. For instance, in the case of non-payment of rent where the tenant has simply failed to pay rent, no notice is required. You may file an eviction complaint with the Landlord-Tenant Court immediately and evict a non-paying tenant forthwith.
If the tenant has engaged in conduct that violates the lease, you must first send a Notice to Cease, which advises the tenant that they’re in violation of the lease, sets forth the lease provision of which they’re in violation, and advises them that if they continue to violate the lease, they will receive a Notice to Quit and be evicted from the property. If, after having received a Notice to Cease, the tenant continues to violate the lease, the tenant is sent a Notice to Quit. Generally, the time period contemplated in a Notice to Quit is 30 days, after which time – if the tenant remains in the apartment or on the premises – the landlord can file a conviction complaint in Landlord-Tenant Court.
In certain instances, other than non-payment of rent, a landlord does not have to wait 30 days and other scenarios a 60-day notice is required. For example, if there’s been destruction to the property because the tenant has recklessly or negligently damaged the landlord’s property, the tenant could possibly be given a three-day Notice to Quit. Then, immediately thereafter, if the tenant continues to remain in the premises, an eviction complaint can be promptly filed.