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01-07-2006, 08:01 PM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4
| | | renter late fees
What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? New Jersey
I live in a 2 bedroom single family home and have been here for almost 3 years (this lease is up in april 2006). I currently pay $1225 a month. My landlord charges $100 extra if the rent is late by the 7th of the month and $75 each week after that for a 30 day late fee of $325. I have paid $1400 only one month since I moved in and $1325 maybe 5 times. Everyone I have talked to has said that these numbers are outrageous and that landlords are only allowed to charge a certain percentage of the rent in late fees. What is the deal here? Am I being over-charged? And, if so, am I able to recapture the funds I have already paid out?
Thanks in advance,
Melissa |
01-07-2006, 08:23 PM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: May 2000 Location: Catatonic State
Posts: 71,061
| | Quote: |
Originally Posted by mma061703 What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? New Jersey
I live in a 2 bedroom single family home and have been here for almost 3 years (this lease is up in april 2006). I currently pay $1225 a month. My landlord charges $100 extra if the rent is late by the 7th of the month and $75 each week after that for a 30 day late fee of $325. I have paid $1400 only one month since I moved in and $1325 maybe 5 times. Everyone I have talked to has said that these numbers are outrageous and that landlords are only allowed to charge a certain percentage of the rent in late fees. What is the deal here? Am I being over-charged? And, if so, am I able to recapture the funds I have already paid out?
Thanks in advance,
Melissa |
**A: Everyone you have talked to? Have you read your lease and the NJ L/T law to see what the real answers are? |
01-08-2006, 09:11 PM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4
| | | my lease is what says how much we are to pay in late fees, and that is what we have been following. however, we didn't think anything of it until several of our friends said that we shouldn't be paying 25% of our rent in late fees. does anyone know the laws regarding this matter in new jersey? any landlords out there who happen to know how much you are allowed to charge in late fees?
thanks in advance |
01-08-2006, 09:17 PM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: May 2000 Location: Catatonic State
Posts: 71,061
| | Quote: |
Originally Posted by mma061703 my lease is what says how much we are to pay in late fees, and that is what we have been following. however, we didn't think anything of it until several of our friends said that we shouldn't be paying 25% of our rent in late fees. does anyone know the laws regarding this matter in new jersey? any landlords out there who happen to know how much you are allowed to charge in late fees?
thanks in advance |
**A: did you READ my post? |
01-08-2006, 09:58 PM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: In the good old US of A
Posts: 11,518
| | | This is what I found in a search ..
The late charge has to be reasonable .
Use this as a guide , if you will :
Tenant shall pay a late charge of 5% of the monthly
rent for each payment received by the Landlord after the 5th day of each
month. Tenant shall pay a late charge of 10% of the monthly rent for each
rent payment that is received by the landlord after the 10th of each month.
The days do NOT include weekends or holidays .
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01-09-2006, 01:28 AM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4
| | | to the first guy: yes, i read your post. my question is...why are you writing a reply if you don't know the answers? i'm looking for someone who knows something about this subject, not just someone who is going to tell me to reread my lease.
to the 2nd reply: thank you for the information. is that the limit of what you are able to charge, or just an example of reasonable fees? |
01-09-2006, 08:57 AM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: In the good old US of A
Posts: 11,518
| | Quote: |
Originally Posted by mma061703 to the first guy: yes, i read your post. my question is...why are you writing a reply if you don't know the answers? i'm looking for someone who knows something about this subject, not just someone who is going to tell me to reread my lease.
to the 2nd reply: thank you for the information. is that the limit of what you are able to charge, or just an example of reasonable fees? | An example . If you believe the late fees go against LL/tenant Law , then let the Court decide .
5-10 % may not be unreasonable , but $75 per week thereafter most likely IS unreasonable .
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"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity."
Borrowed .
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01-09-2006, 09:49 AM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: May 2000 Location: Catatonic State
Posts: 71,061
| | | [quote=mma061703]to the first guy: yes, i read your post. my question is...why are you writing a reply if you don't know the answers? i'm looking for someone who knows something about this subject, not just someone who is going to tell me to reread my lease.
**A: are you a freaking baby that wants some spoon feeding?
Read my post again. If you actually took the time to read the L/T law, the answer to your question is there. I know the answer but want you to do some work and help YOURSELF. |
01-10-2006, 10:22 PM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4
| | | look, isn't this forum a place where people are allowed to come and ask legal questions? if you don't have any advice to give, then stop wasting your time. if i had time to do the research myself, i wouldn't have to ask on here, would i? get a life. |
01-11-2006, 11:03 AM
| | Member | | Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 59
| | | I am not sure about where you live, but in CT, I just signed a new lease in November and the lease stated that if tenant does not pay by the first, there would be a $100 late fee and if they do not pay by the 10th, then a whole month of rent would be owed. Of course, I knew that there was some illegal business in the lease so I called a real estate (Coldwell Bankers) and asked them for an opinion and they said in the state of CT, that was illegal and it should be after the 5th, I am charged $50. The landlord wasn't allowed to make up amounts of his own. I would call a real estate agency near you and ask them. It was very helpful! |
01-11-2006, 11:13 AM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: May 2000 Location: Catatonic State
Posts: 71,061
| | Quote: |
Originally Posted by mma061703 look, isn't this forum a place where people are allowed to come and ask legal questions? if you don't have any advice to give, then stop wasting your time. if i had time to do the research myself, i wouldn't have to ask on here, would i? get a life. |
**A: oh brother. |
01-11-2006, 11:33 AM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Wait a sec... I will look outside.
Posts: 5,951
| | Quote: |
Originally Posted by HomeGuru **A: oh brother. | **A: oh sister.
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