Jersey City - Non-paying tenant. Lease breaker. What do I do?

[Emmanuel Rosario]

Hey BiggerPockets community,

I own a two family property in Jersey City, NJ and I have been dealing with a non-paying tenant since early 2021. 

She has not paid her rent since February 2021 but has been able to secure rental assistance through the program that the NJDCA offers. I received the checks late June/early July and it covered 5 months of rent. She still owes me rent from July 2021 and has not paid rent for January 2022. What a great, but predictable, way to start the new year. I will charge the late fee (because I finally can again).

She is due for recertification and according to the people I spoke with at the NJDCA they will again pay for all of her rent arrears plus an additional 3 months. However, the folks at NJDCA move SLOW!

This tenant is extremely disrespectful, lacks basic communication skills and is breaking the lease in more than one way. She has people living in the unit that are not supposed to be there, she has a dog in the unit although the lease clearly states no pets and her mother (who is not on the lease) continues to smoke in and around the property although the lease clearly states "No smoking". Last year, I called several lawyers to only be told "be patient because there is nothing we can do". But now that the moratorium on evictions is over, I want to do every and anything I can to get this lady out of my rental. Even if the rental assistance program comes through again. She has proven to be unreliable and I suspect that she is gaming the system. Her boyfriend (not on the lease) lives there and works a great paying job. 

I know landlords in NJ have the right to remove someone from there property if they want to move in (This only pertains the small multi-facility properties I believe). And I do want to move into my property anyways because it is much closer to work. 

I filed for eviction in March 2020, but the courts are so backed up. I do not have a court date yet. 

What do I do?