A growing trend of conflicts between landlords and tenants in some states in the U.S. is emerging due to tenants either not paying rent or paying significantly below market rates. Just yesterday (December 3), a case in the Bronx where a landlord allegedly killed a tenant made headlines, while in New Jersey, another landlord took a unique approach by using dead fish to try to drive out tenants.
According to Gathamsit, tenants of a rent-controlled apartment in Jersey City complained that their landlord had placed smelly fish in a vacant room in hopes of forcing them to leave the building, allowing the landlord to then increase the rent for new tenants.
When the smell became unbearable, tenants of the apartment located at 336 New York Avenue called the fire department for assistance.
In a video posted by the media, fully equipped firefighters kicked down a door of a unit and upon entering, discovered at least one dead fish head on a sofa, which was then disposed of in a garbage bag.
The tenants claimed they had also found dead fish in another vacant room, with one tenant describing the situation as a form of psychological warfare.
Local media reports suggest that this landlord, who acquired the apartment building in 2023, has been planning to evict the current tenants and had earlier submitted an application to the Rent Control Board to increase rent.
The landlord complained that the current tenants in the building pay only $540 per month, far below the market rate of around $1,850 in the community. The landlord argued that due to the low rent, the owner incurs yearly losses exceeding $110,000. At a hearing in July, the landlord stated that the low rent prevented them from covering the operational expenses of the building, using it to justify the smell issue and claim the right to raise rents.
Selena, a Chinese tenant who has lived in Jersey City for three years, acknowledged that $450 a month was indeed low, but pointed out that tenants were abiding by the law as it was a rent-controlled property.
“Our one-bedroom unit is $1,400, which is already a very cheap price in the area,” she said. “I think it’s a government and legal issue. Neither the landlord nor the tenants are at fault. The government has violated market principles, leading to these conflicts that are now burdening both landlords and tenants.”
Due to its proximity to Manhattan and convenient transportation, Jersey City has seen a surge in rent prices over the past few years. According to data from the real estate platform Zumper, as of November 2024, the median rent for all unit types in Jersey City is $3,175, 60% higher than the national average, making it the second most expensive rental city in the U.S. after neighboring New York City, where rents average $4,300.
Currently, tenants in the building in Jersey City are considering filing a criminal lawsuit regarding the dead fish incident.
In a separate report by the New York Post, last Saturday (November 30), two brothers who owned properties in the Bronx were arrested and brought to court for a fatal altercation with a 30-year-old tenant over rent arrears. One brother was detained, while the other was released pending further investigation.