Illegal evictions are on the rise throughout the state of New Jersey. Further, there are many evictions that don’t get reported. Money-hungry landlords often use renters’ lack of knowledge about rental law to force them to leave their own homes. Then, it’s not uncommon if they find new renters willing to pay a higher price. As illegal evictions and rental scams continue to become more common throughout the state, people are realizing that it’s time to fight back.
But how?
The first thing that you should do if you feel like you are being illegally evicted is to call the police. Legally, landlords are not allowed to lock you out of your own home. They are also not allowed to intimidate you into leaving. If you have a police report documenting this kind of behavior, your chances at succeeding at keeping your apartment increase drastically.
Moreover, you also will be able to get back in your home. If you were a victim of an apartment advertisement scam, calling the police will alert them to this activity and trigger an investigation to allow you to press charges.
If you responded to a bogus ad for rental property, report it. The publisher of the media involved — the paper or website. They will investigate and stop running the to save others the hassle you are being forced to battle.
If your landlord has made an attempt to force you out of your apartment without following the proper procedure, it’s very possible that he will try to do it again. This is not something that you can take lightly. It is something that you can and should bring to court. You may be entitled to reparations and it’s also possible that your landlord may end up having to pay fines or even go to jail depending on what methods he used to try to force you to leave your home.
Do not be one of the many silent victims out there. Call an experienced real estate lawyer who knows NJ laws and will fight hard to protect your rights. Call Joel R. Spivack Esq. today for a free consultation about your case.