Renter vacated and didn't pay last months rent

[Dbatiste]

[quote=bentlebee;11498180]If you have no license and need one...than you better not go after him and avoid getting in trouble your self.

I agree. It's not worth the hassle. Let him go and be glad he didn't decided to stay there rent free for 6 months while you try to evict him in court.

[Donn2390]

Definitely a lesson learned. Money up front before they move in. He is a dead beat loser who is gaming you. He used you, and you allowed it to happen by treating a business like a friendship.
However.... What makes the home illegal to rent out..??
Perhaps things are different in NJ, but I've rented homes for years, and never hear of getting a license from the city. That isn't required on this coast. I'd do some checking. It would be worth the few bucks to take him to small claims court. You won't collect any money from a dead bead, you can ruin his credit and prevent him from renting in the future.

[CptnRn]

You may not need a license in NJ to rent out a room. You were not actually renting out an apartment, but had a room-mate. It would be worth looking into what the law requires in more detail. It could be you are perfectly legal and can go after the roommate for the last months rent.

I found information on rooming & boarding homes here http://www.lsnjlaw.org/english/place...teen/index.cfm

A license is still required along with annual inspections and giving the tenant a copy of their rights and a few other things. It looks like New Jersey's landlord tenant laws are extremely in favor of the tenant, just as they are in California. I expect this will have a negative effect on the availability of housing. I can't imagine why someone would want to be a landlord with such onerous legal requirements imposed on them.


You would be better of writing off this loss and moving on. If you take on a new tenant, make sure you understand the laws next time.