jerseyrenter09
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NJ
I rented a room from a woman who owned a condo and became her roommate. A police officer told me that her renting the room to me was illegal. I've heard before about rooms for rent being illegal but did not know what constitutes that but I signed a month to month lease with her. She gave me a 30 day notice to move out because she said I did not clean the apartment enough and other issues(no damage, partying etc..created by me) and this led us into a verbal argument. She walked through the apartment with a 4ft bike chain and blocked me from moving in a common area and we started fighting.Cops were called by a neighbor and they arrested her and I won a temporary restraining order against her. I also found out later that the cops noted a saw sitting on her coffee table in her room.Right now she is not allowed to be in her own residence and I am still here. The hearing for the final restraining order is on February 5th. If I win the final hearing on February 5th, she may not be allowed to come back here. If they do allow her to come back then I would have to move immediately for my own safety - IF in fact they grant this -Do I have to pay for my own relocation?? We have a municipal court for the incident on Feb 17th, but for the landlord/tenant issues do I need to find a lawyer to go to a separate small claims court with her if I seek rent back or relocation assistance? Where do I begin that process? If I win in the municipal court could I seek monies there instead?
There is also a grey area for me with the restraining order. It states for her that "You are prohibited from making or causing anyone else to make harassing statements to Plaintiff". However, she has already sent two different people over here with a set of keys to enter the apartment and retrieve things for her. The first person that came over I did not see, but for the second I was in the apartment and heard the door being unlocked but the chain lock stopped them from getting in. If she comes over here the cops said she would go to jail but nothing was stated about others coming over here for her. They didn't harass me, but I don't think it's right for her to be doing such a thing. For now I have switched the deadbolt lock- a renter switching the lock on the landlord -crazy right? But considering the circumstances, I can argue what I did if I need to right?
One more thing - The incident happened on 1/28/09 and my rent for the room is due on February 3rd. Until things are sorted out by the courts I do not plan on paying her my rent for this month. Should I still be obligated to do so?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
I rented a room from a woman who owned a condo and became her roommate. A police officer told me that her renting the room to me was illegal. I've heard before about rooms for rent being illegal but did not know what constitutes that but I signed a month to month lease with her. She gave me a 30 day notice to move out because she said I did not clean the apartment enough and other issues(no damage, partying etc..created by me) and this led us into a verbal argument. She walked through the apartment with a 4ft bike chain and blocked me from moving in a common area and we started fighting.Cops were called by a neighbor and they arrested her and I won a temporary restraining order against her. I also found out later that the cops noted a saw sitting on her coffee table in her room.Right now she is not allowed to be in her own residence and I am still here. The hearing for the final restraining order is on February 5th. If I win the final hearing on February 5th, she may not be allowed to come back here. If they do allow her to come back then I would have to move immediately for my own safety - IF in fact they grant this -Do I have to pay for my own relocation?? We have a municipal court for the incident on Feb 17th, but for the landlord/tenant issues do I need to find a lawyer to go to a separate small claims court with her if I seek rent back or relocation assistance? Where do I begin that process? If I win in the municipal court could I seek monies there instead?
There is also a grey area for me with the restraining order. It states for her that "You are prohibited from making or causing anyone else to make harassing statements to Plaintiff". However, she has already sent two different people over here with a set of keys to enter the apartment and retrieve things for her. The first person that came over I did not see, but for the second I was in the apartment and heard the door being unlocked but the chain lock stopped them from getting in. If she comes over here the cops said she would go to jail but nothing was stated about others coming over here for her. They didn't harass me, but I don't think it's right for her to be doing such a thing. For now I have switched the deadbolt lock- a renter switching the lock on the landlord -crazy right? But considering the circumstances, I can argue what I did if I need to right?
One more thing - The incident happened on 1/28/09 and my rent for the room is due on February 3rd. Until things are sorted out by the courts I do not plan on paying her my rent for this month. Should I still be obligated to do so?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?