New Jersey 3 Day Notice to Vacate | Eviction Notice Form

A New Jersey 3 Day Notice To Vacate is a letter which complies with state legal requirements to begin eviction against a tenant for illegal activity on the property, such as assaulting someone on the premises. The tenant is not given an opportunity to take corrective action, and must move out within three (3) judicial days (i.e., not counting weekends or legal holidays) of receiving notice.

When To Use a New Jersey 3 Day Notice To Vacate

A New Jersey 3 Day Notice To Vacate begins the eviction process for the following tenant violations:

Causing substantial property damage
Illegal possession or use of a firearm
Possession or distribution of controlled substances
Involvement in human trafficking or promotion of prostitution
Threatened or committed assault on the premises

Some types of New Jersey lease termination notice may allow different reasons for termination, or different notice periods. This may also apply to an eviction notice issued because of a lease or legal violation.

How To Write a New Jersey 3 Day Notice To Vacate

To help ensure the legal compliance of a Notice To Vacate:

Use the full name of the receiving party, and address of record, if known
Specify the termination date of the lease or tenancy
Specify the basis for terminating the tenancy
Fill in the full address of the rental premises
Provide updated/current address and phone number information
Print name and sign the notice
Complete the certificate of service by indicating the date and method of notice delivery, along with printed name and signature

It is easy to lose an otherwise justified legal action because of improper notice. Check carefully to ensure enough time after notice is delivered, not when it’s sent.

How To Serve a New Jersey 3 Day Notice To Vacate

New Jersey landlords may deliver a 3 Day Notice To Vacate using any of these methods:

Hand delivery to the tenant
Hand delivery to a person over age 14 on the property who can accept the notice on behalf of the tenant
Delivery by certified mail, and by regular mail if the first mailing goes unclaimed
Only when all forms of hand delivery fail: Delivery by posting or affixing a copy at a conspicuous place on the premises

Mailed notice extends the notice period by five (5) calendar days, to account for variable delivery times.

note

In almost all cases, notice is legally served when it is received by the other party, NOT when it’s sent. Check specified date of termination carefully to ensure compliance with the legal requirements for a notice period.

Sources

1 NJ Rev Stat § 2A:18-61.1: The person has continued to be, after written notice to cease, so disorderly as to destroy the peace and quiet of the occupants or other tenants living in said house or neighborhood.

c. The person has willfully or by reason of gross negligence caused or allowed destruction, damage or injury to the premises.

d. The person has continued, after written notice to cease, to substantially violate or breach any of the landlord’s rules and regulations governing said premises, provided such rules and regulations are reasonable and have been accepted in writing by the tenant or made a part of the lease at the beginning of the lease term.

e. (1) The person has continued, after written notice to cease, to substantially violate or breach any of the covenants or agreements contained in the lease for the premises where a right of reentry is reserved to the landlord in the lease for a violation of such covenant or agreement, provided that such covenant or agreement is reasonable and was contained in the lease at the beginning of the lease term.
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2 N.J. Stat. § 2A:18-61.2: No judgment of possession shall be entered for any premises covered by section 2 of this act, except in the nonpayment of rent under subsection a. or f. of section 2, unless the landlord has made written demand and given written notice for delivery of possession of the premises. The following notice … shall specify in detail the cause of the termination of the tenancy and shall be served either personally upon the tenant or lessee or such person in possession by giving him a copy thereof, or by leaving a copy thereof at his usual place of abode with some member of his family above the age of 14 years, or by certified mail; if the certified letter is not claimed, notice shall be sent by regular mail.

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3 N.J. Stat. § 2A:18-53(a) & (c): Except for residential lessees and tenants included in section 2 of this act, any lessee or tenant at will or at sufferance, or for a part of a year, or for one or more years, of any houses, buildings, lands or tenements, and the assigns, undertenants or legal representatives of such tenant or lessee, may be removed from such premises by the Superior Court, Law Division, Special Civil Part in an action in the following cases:

a. Where such person holds over and continues in possession of all or any part of the demised premises after the expiration of his term, and after demand made and written notice given by the landlord or his agent, for delivery of possession thereof. The notice shall be served either personally upon the tenant or such person in possession by giving him a copy thereof or by leaving a copy of the same at his usual place of abode with a member of his family above the age of 14 years.

…

c. Where such person (1) shall be so disorderly as to destroy the peace and quiet of the landlord or the other tenants or occupants living in said house or the neighborhood, or (2) shall willfully destroy, damage or injure the premises, or (3) shall constantly violate the landlord’s rules and regulations governing said premises, provided, such rules have been accepted in writing by the tenant or are made a part of the lease; or (4) shall commit any breach or violation of any of the covenants or agreements in the nature thereof contained in the lease for the premises where a right of re-entry is reserved in the lease for a violation of such covenants or agreements, and shall hold over and continue in possession of the demised premises or any part thereof, after the landlord or his agent for that purpose has caused a written notice of the termination of said tenancy to be served upon said tenant, and a demand that said tenant remove from said premises within three days from the service of such notice. The notice shall specify the cause of the termination of the tenancy, and shall be served either personally upon the tenant or such person in possession by giving him a copy thereof, or by leaving a copy thereof at his usual place of abode with some member of his family above the age of 14 years.

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4 N.J. Stat. § 2A:18-54: Where for any reason, any of the notices required by section 2A:18-53 of this title, cannot be served as provided in said section or a summons and complaint cannot be served as in other actions, such notices or summons and complaint may be served upon any person actually occupying the premises, either personally or by leaving same with a member of his family above the age of 14 years, or when admission to the premises is denied or the tenant or occupant and all members of his family above the age of 14 years are absent from the premises, or there is no person actually occupying them, the officer or other person may post or affix a copy of the same upon the door or other conspicuous part of such premises. Such posting shall be deemed to be lawful service.

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5 N.J. Ct. R. 1:3-3: RULE 1:3-3 – Additional Time After Service by Ordinary Mail

When service of a notice or paper is made by ordinary mail, and a rule or court order allows the party served a period of time after the service thereof within which to take some action, 5 days shall be added to the period.
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