Owner, renter in legal battle over $800K South Jersey home

LAWNSIDE, N.J. - A battle over an expensive home in South Jersey, with two strangers, both saying they have the right to be there. On one side is a realtor who says he bought the house and is trying to get it ready to sell. The other side is a woman who says she rented the house through Facebook Marketplace.

Now it’s a legal battle.

"Today, I’m the victim. Tomorrow, it can be somebody else," says Haci Kose, a real estate agent and developer in South Jersey. He explains that his newest renovation, an $800,000 home in Lawnside, New Jersey, was scheduled for an open house this weekend, but instead, it was yanked off the market after his team went out to stage the property and they couldn’t get inside.

"They called me and said, ‘Haci, the key is not working. There’s no lockbox on the property.’ She said, ‘The lady is here saying she rents the property and it belongs to her.’"

Kose says he called police and rushed to the home where he found people who he says claimed to be renting the property that he owns, according to the deed he displayed.

Lawnside Police confirm they’re investigating. In a police report, a woman at the property told police that she rented the home through a woman on Facebook Marketplace.

People at the home declined to speak on camera, but did show a lease agreement and said they’re renting it directly from Kose.

Kose tells FOX 29 News, "My contractor - he still has his belongings in the garage and he cannot get in. Today, he said to me, ‘Can you ask police to escort me in? I need my tools. I need to work.’"

Kose says he has spent roughly $250,000 renovating the 6,000-square-foot home over the last six months and now he says he’s not allowed on-site without permission.

"I called the state senators," says Kose. I called the Sheriff’s Department. I obviously talked to the police."

Kose says he has an attorney and is planning to fight this in court, but wanted to share his story publicly.

"At least it will bring awareness to politicians that this kind of law is not right for the general public. It’s beyond devastating every time I think about it."

Kose and his attorney say they have a court hearing next week and are hoping for a swift resolution.