Getting The Deposit Back After Illegal Sublet in New Jersey
My best friend is in a jam and I thought i'd find info for her. (im in a jam myself- posted on the eviction and roommate post). Anyway, my friend entered into a agreement with a girl named Natalie to rent a room in an apt in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Natalie has a month to month lease with the landlord, but the landlord sold the apt. Anyway, I dont know if my friend is allowed to be living there, I doubt landlord knows. But Natalie wont give the deposit back. We think Natalie is waiting to get her deposit from the landlord, and going to deduct whatever the landlord deducts. Since my friend only lived there for 4 months and had no furniture, she did not do anything destructive to the premises while moving stuff, or anything else. Natalie, however, made significant damages to apt while moving and occupying the premises over the years. It's not fair for Natalie to withhold the deposit and punish my friend for a 4 month (month to month) rental agreement.
My friend left the apartment March 1st, and still hasnt gotten the deposit back- with no hope of getting it back. Because the landlord sold the apt, everyone in the apt left on March. The girl claims she didnt get the deposit from the landlord. Does she have any redress? Btw, Natalie has been a jerk from the beginning- wont go into that. She has a copy of their agreement in pdf, please email me at babiyah@yahoo.com and i'll gladly send it for legal advice. Does she have any redress? I even lent my friend money to hold her over until she gets the deposit- now we dont know when that'll be! Thanks so much for reading ...
Re: Getting The Deposit Back After Illegal Sublet in New Jersey
Your friend can sue Natalie in small claims court.