Q: Can my father legally lock us out our home?
My dad changed the code to get into the house because he wants us to leave.
We’re both fully employed and are working towards moving, but need time to get out.
We never signed any legal lease/rental agreement or any other legal document detailing rent or leasing.
We do not pay any rent, because of a verbal agreement that we were expected to finish college (we are both also full time students). My sister has paid rent in the past, but she was paying because of a verbal agreement.
The police showed up today (as of posting this) because when the code isn’t put in, they are automatically requested by the program. When they arrived, I showed my ID and federal mail as proof of address and they let me stay in my house and left.
I’m 19, and my sister is 25.
I just want to know if it’s legal to lock us out our home or kick us out without any legal documents or warning, especially during a pandemic.
A: Self help by a Landlord to cause an eviction of tenants is not permissible in NJ. In order to evict a tenant. a Landlord must follow the requirements specifically set forth in New Jersey statutes. To evict a tenant , the Landlord must file a complaint in court.
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