Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in New Jersey

I have a dispute with a former landlord regarding an unpaid balance. There was never a lease, nor any type contract between the two of us. The owner of thehouse is now threatening to go after my exwife to collect what he believes I owe. I was divorced long before I moved in to the house. Is there any validity to this course of action that he has threatened?


Asked on 11/18/10, 6:16 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Jeffrey Walters Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Walters, LLC

Leases do not have to be written. They can be oral. It sounds as if you had an oral lease, as you refer to the other party as your former "landlord." Whether or not you do owe unpaid rent, there does not appear to be any merit to your former landlord's threat to try to collect against your ex-wife, unless she was a party to the oral lease or gave a guarantee for its payment.

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Answered on 11/23/10, 9:15 am


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