Asbury Park Press has investigated the state of rental property in New Jersey, and found it lacking.
This will not come as a surprise to our clients, many of whom daily suffer through horrible living conditions, including structural damage that can leave children and families devastated by injury. The report has helped to shine a light on the state of rental properties in New Jersey. While the focus was on Asbury Park for this report, similar conditions can be found across the state
The APP’s “Protected by the law” series
According to APP, “unscrupulous landlords” are taking advantage of renters by hiding behind legal entities, leaving renters with little access to the individuals responsible for the upkeep of a rental property. The story noted how many LLCs failed to appear at court regarding derelict properties, despite being requested to do so by the city in which their property was located.
While the court is within its rights to issue a bench warrant, the reality is the city is unlikely to spend the resources to discover the owner of the LLC. The law does not require an LLC to provide municipalities with the names of the owner(s) of the LLC.
Legal help finding answers
After a serious injury, it can be difficult to find answers. Fortunately, legal help is available. Tenants have legal rights regarding property maintenance. If a landlord allows dangerous conditions to occur on the property, they can be legally responsible for the resulting damages.
If you or a loved one was injured, contact an experienced personal injury attorney familiar with ceiling and roof collapses and other issues that have caused injury to a tenant.