Tenant behind on rent? Damage beyond wear and tear? Holding over after the lease ended? Describe the situation in your own words and get a plain-English breakdown, severity rating, step-by-step next steps, and ready-to-send notices — specific to New Jersey law.
Get My New Jersey Action Plan — Free to StartNew Jersey returns deposits within 30 days of lease termination, plus the tenant's share of interest (deposit cap is 1.5 months' rent); the deadline drops to 5 business days after a fire, flood, condemnation, or evacuation. There is no general statutory rent grace period for ordinary tenants — a 5-business-day grace exists only for qualifying senior citizens on certain government benefits. Landlords must give notice before entry (24 hours for multi-unit dwellings under N.J.A.C. 5:10-5.1; no fixed statutory minimum for single-family rentals). New Jersey is unusual in giving many tenants eviction-for-cause protections under its Anti-Eviction Act, and lockouts or utility shutoffs outside a court order are illegal.
30 days after move-out, with an itemized statement for any deductions.
Landlords must generally give 24-hour notice before entering, except in emergencies.
No. Eviction requires a court process — lockouts, belongings removal, and utility shutoffs without a court order are illegal.
Legal Services of New Jersey at (888) 576-5529. You can also call or text 211 for local referrals.