Manville Council OKs relocation ordinance

Landlords may have to pay evicted tenants’ expenses.

By: Alec Moore
   An ordinance that effectively will give the borough the authority to recoup expenses associated with relocating displaced tenants was unanimously adopted by the Borough Council on Friday.
   Under state law, any individual living in a rented or leased dwelling who is served with an eviction notice — as a result of a zoning or code enforcement violation — is entitled to up to six months’ rent from the municipality issuing the eviction notice.
   The ordinance adopted effectively grants Manville the power to hold the owner of the rented dwelling in question responsible for the six months’ rent that is legally owed to the displaced tenant.
   Councilwoman Susan Asher introduced the ordinance out of concern for the safety of residents who are living in rental units that either are not up to code or are occupied by too many tenants.
   In introducing the ordinance several weeks ago, Ms. Asher cited a recent situation in Bound Brook in which a fire nearly claimed the lives of 22 individuals, all living in a single-family home.
   The borough now plans to adopt a relocation assistance fund to cover the cost of relocating displaced tenants until money can be recouped from the displaced tenants’ landlords.
   The council met Friday because its meeting originally scheduled for May 27 was postponed due to lack of a quorum.