As a landlord, you benefit from having your rental units inhabited by tenants. As such, you do not want to have to remove a resident. Sometimes, however, tenants’ behaviors or actions may so risk your property and business interests, you must take action.
Although you may have included terms in your lease agreement to allow for a tenant’s removal, you must adhere to the appropriate procedures in order to do so legally. Understanding your rights as a landlord and property owner may help you avoid legal issues and protect your interests.
Cause for evictions
According to the New Jersey Courts, you can evict a tenant from your property with appropriate cause. Some of the allowable reasons for which the court may allow you to have a resident removed from a home you own include the following:
- Making rent payments late
- Failing to pay rent
- Violating the lease agreement terms
- Causing damage or destruction
- Acting in disorderly manners on a repeated basis
The court will also commonly allow you to evict a tenant if safety or health reasons force you to need to demolish or board up the property.
Process for evictions
To have a client evicted, you will need to file a landlord-tenant lawsuit with the appropriate division within the New Jersey Superior Court circuit. A successful claim will result in the court issuing a judgment for possession. Your tenant has the right to defend themselves at the hearing against the eviction.
Taking action to remove a tenant without meeting the legal requirements may result in legal issues for you.
