Can my landlord Invade my privacy?
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Can my landlord Invade my privacy?
I have been renting an apartment for 10 years with no lease. At the begining of the month i told the landlord that I was moving at the end of the month because the rent was too high. I used the deposit i had given 10 years ago to pay for this months rent. All of a sudden and in the middle of the month I have already paid for the landlord comes in paint and moves my stuff around. He has never asked me or even told me he was coming to do anything and he doesnt care about coming in wenever he wants to. What can I do? Is he allowed to do this?
Asked on March 20, 2012 under Real Estate Law, New Jersey
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
1) No, the landlord may not do this. A landlord may enter, on reasonable notice (generally held to be 24 hours) to show the premises to prospective renters or buyers or perform maintenance, but may not enter without notice, to prep the apartment for re-rental when they involves moving the tenant's belongings.
2) However, it is unclear what you can do if this is over and done--the legal system only provides compensation for actual injuries or loss, not merely for inconvenience or one-time invasions of privacy, so you could sue for enough money to offset the cost of the lawsuit.
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