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Legal-aid attorney in Monmouth County: hoarding can trigger eviction steps, but landlords can’t remove tenants directly
Summary
Christopher Benson of South Jersey Legal Services told attendees that hoarding itself is not a crime but can lead to lease violations, municipal fines and eviction proceedings; he emphasized landlords must use the court process and urged tenants to seek legal help early.
Christopher Benson, managing attorney for the Monmouth County office of South Jersey Legal Services, told attendees that hoarding is not itself illegal but often produces conditions that can form the legal basis for eviction, code enforcement or fines.
"There are no self help evictions in New Jersey under any circumstances," Benson said, explaining that landlords must follow statutory notice and court procedures before a tenant can be removed. He described the typical sequence: a landlord issues a notice alleging lease violations, code enforcement or voucher agencies may inspect and cite violations, and a landlord must file in…
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