N.J. DCA Landlord/Tenant Information Series — (English)

Citation
N.J. DCA Landlord/Tenant Information Series — (English)
Jurisdiction
New Jersey (state)
Source
Official source
Original Source
https://www.nj.gov/dca/codes/publications/pdf_lti/t_i_r.pdf ↗

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“Self-help” Evictions
Self-help evictions occur when the landlord or someone acting on the landlord’s behalf
enters into the dwelling unit without the permission of the tenant and without a judgment from the
Court and forces the tenant to move. A lockout occurs when the landlord padlocks the door or
changes the locks while the tenant are not home and then refuses to allow the tenant back into the
premises. A lockout also occurs when the landlord shuts off the utilities in attempt to force the
tenant to move. Self-help evictions, or lockouts, made by the landlord are illegal in New Jersey.

If a landlord attempts a self-help eviction or lockout, the tenant should call the police. If
the landlord refuses to allow the tenant back into the premises after the police have warned the
landlord about the illegal procedures, the landlord may be charged with disorderly conduct.

“Self-help” eviction is entry into a dwelling unit and removal of tenants without their
consent or without a judgment from a court, are not permitted in New Jersey under any
circumstances. A landlord or any other person who enters an apartment or property without a court
order authorizing such entry and/or holds a tenant’s belongings unlawfully by force or threat of
monies owed may be liable for damages to the tenant (N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1).

A landlord or their agent may not padlock, disconnect utilities or otherwise block entry to
a rental premise while the tenant still lives there. Also, the removal of a tenant’s belongings from
a premise by a landlord after the eviction may be done only in accordance with the Abandoned
Property Law, N.J.S.A. 2A:18-72 to 84, Only an officer of the court can legally physically evict a
tenant, after a judge has issued a Warrant for Removal.