Illegal Apartment

[Copland116]

I need advise --
I unknowingly rented an illegal basement apartment for 3 months in New Jersey and then it caught on fire.... I found out from the fire dept that it was illegal ( never registered as an apt.)
I had to move out.. incrued moving expenses ( storage , rental truck etc. ) Hotel expenses and had to move out on a weekday - so landlords Insurance co wouldn't see my stuff in the apt. so I lost wages. What are my rights? I paid the last months rent 6 days before the fire and the landlord won't give me any of that money back. I heard that because the apartment was illegal he has to give me all the money I ever paid him back.( $4400 in rent/sec ) Is this true?
The landlord won't even deal with me... I'm getting fustrated!

 

[mary hartman]

You have to sue him in small claims court......you probably wont get the back rent, but your secrity and this months rent should not be a problem UNLESS YOU FOOLISHLY PAID IN CASH and have no reciepts.

And you should have let the insurance company see you, they wouldnt have paid the landlord claim...dumb!!!