Forcible or unlawful entry and detainer
A landlord shall be guilty of an unlawful entry and detainer, if the landlord enters the rental
premises peaceably or forcibly and then detains (keeps or takes possession of) the property by force
or the threat of force or if the landlord enters the rental unit and removes the tenant’s personal
property without the consent of the tenant or a judgment from the Superior Court of New Jersey. If
a landlord enters a tenant’s unit while the tenant is not home, this is considered forcible entry.
Forcible detainer
A landlord shall be guilty of forcible detainer, if the landlord enters the rental premises forcibly or
legally, with the tenant’s permission or a court order, and then uses force to detain the property.
Unlawful detainer
If any tenant willfully and without force, holds over (remains) at the rental premises after the tenant
has been given a written notice demanding delivery of possession (notice to quit) of the rental
premises from the tenant to the landlord, the tenant shall be guilty of an unlawful detainer.
If a tenant is guilty of unlawful detainer, the tenant shall pay the landlord double the rent for as long
as the tenant holds over. In addition, if a tenant after giving notice that the tenant will be quitting
the premises, holds over, the tenant shall pay double the rent for the holdover time that the tenant
possesses the premises.