Eviction taking forever - anything else can be done?

[Daljit S.]

Hi BP, 

I am currently house hacking a duplex in Union City, NJ, and unfortunately, the tenant stopped paying rent a few months ago. I used an attorney to file for eviction and we had the court date towards the end of October. At the courthouse, the tenant signed an agreement to vacate the property by December 1st. However, they failed to do so and remain on the premises.

I immediately contacted my attorney, who filed a warrant for removal the next day. Since then, there has been no progress. My attorney informs me that they are waiting for the court to assign a court officer to post the warrant of removal on the tenant's door. It has been almost three weeks since the warrant of removal was filed.

For context, this is my first time going through the eviction process - Does it typically take this long in Hudson County and is there anything else that can be done on my end to expedite this? I've called the attorney and followed up via email but they've mentioned that they are at the discretion of the court and can't do anything to speed things up. I'm concerned that the delay is because of the holidays and I wont' be able to get the tenant out until the beginning of 2025. 

Thanks in advance for your help in answering this question! 

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Daljit S.:

Unfortunately, you will have to play this out. This is why I stress the importance of knowing the laws and the strength of the legal system before investing in a particular market. A "professional" tenant can draw out an eviction and and strip anything of value from the home, costing you tens of thousands without batting an eye.

There are stories of people living in a home for over a decade without paying a dime.