I am currently a tenant in New Jersey and moved into my apartment for about almost a year now. For the first few months, I asked the landlord every time he came to get the rent for the lease. Each time, the landlord said he would either mail us a lease or bring it with him the next time. He never brung us a lease nor did he fix any problems we complained about. A few months ago, my roommate lost their job and had left the apartment. I told the landlord and he said to just give him what I could for the meantime. Now I am backed up on rent, only two months because he is charging me the same amount and I came across some financial difficulties. He has not made any attempt to contact me within the last two months but I received a court notice for the two months backed up rent. I thought as a tenant that I was to receive written notice of eviction before any court proceedings. I never received a letter regarding the amount that was due nor did I get any kind of contact from him. Am I able to bring that up in court about not receiving notice prior to coming to court and not having a lease. Also, the landlord has an attorney and is sueing me for late fees which I never knew of, attorney fees and court fees? Is that possible to sue for those fees without an agreement being signed?

NJ law no longer requires the landlord to send you a notice before filing a lawsuit for eviction when the reason is non-payment of rent. So don't bother bringing that up in court. As for the lease, a lease is not required to sue for past due rent if the amount is the same as what you've been paying in the past. I do not think that the landlord can sue you for late charges, attorneys fees or court costs if you don't have a written lease, though.