Ordinance requiring the township to inspect rental units each time tenancy changes is expected to be on the agenda for further discussion at council’s Dec. 6 meeting.
By: Joseph Harvie
An ordinance that would require the township to inspect rental units each time tenancy changes has the support of the entire Township Council, members said this week.
Mayor Frank Gambatese, Councilwoman Carol Barrett and Councilmen Charles Carley, Joe Camarota and Chris Killmurray all said they would support a rental ordinance.
The council has been discussing a proposed ordinance that would require the inspection of rental units in the township every time there is a change in occupancy. The topic was discussed at the council’s October work session and the yet to be introduced ordinance should be on the agenda for further discussion on the Dec. 6 Township Council meeting. Council members said they hope to have something in place for 2006.
Mr. Carley said the ordinance would be similar to an ordinance in Plainsboro Township and that he hopes to get it adopted quickly.
"I think the ordinance would rely greatly on the Plainsboro one," Mr. Carley said. "And I would expect it to be in effect for the top of the year."
The Plainsboro ordinance covers multi-unit complexes and townhouses, condominiums and houses that are rented by their owners. It requires those properties to be inspected each time a new tenant is set to move in, said Eileen Boyce, Plainsboro’s housing official. In addition, Plainsboro conducts inspections of all units every three years.
Inspections cover general fire safety, such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, range hoods and bathroom ventilation fans. Inspectors also check to make sure that apartments are not in poor condition or infested with vermin or insects.
The discussion on passing similar rules in South Brunswick began in October, three months after tenants of Deans Apartments looked to the Township Council for help when their landlord would not make repairs to the complex.
Residents of the complex have said that repairs to the development and the overall condition of the apartments has deteriorated during the past several years, and that communication with the owners and management of the complex is poor.
The nonprofit organization Volunteers of America, which specializes in purchasing, renovating and maintaining affordable housing, is in the process of purchasing Deans Apartments from the Property Management Company of North Adams, Mass.
Mr. Camarota said he requested that a discussion on the proposed ordinance be placed on the Dec. 6 Township Council work session. He said the ordinance should cover all township rentals, but should focus on the multifamily dwellings.
"The thrust would be on multifamily units because that’s where most infractions would occur," Mr. Camarota said. "The municipal government needs something to ensure what happened (at Deans Apartments) doesn’t happen again."
Mayor Gambatese said the ordinance should include rental houses in the township.
"The council is saying we need to include all of the homes not just the apartments," Mayor Gambatese said. "From what I can gauge this is the way the council is leaning."
Mr. Carley said the ordinance would also help ensure that the township’s apartment complexes do not deteriorate over time. He said many rental apartments in South Brunswick are about 15 to 20 years old and the ordinance would help to ensure they are maintained.
Ms. Barrett said that she would like the proposed ordinance to start off covering multifamily, apartment complex units before taking on rental houses and townhouses in South Brunswick.
"I do believe we need the ordinance and we need to have someone inspect properties," Ms. Barrett said. "I think we should start off small and see what we can handle and if we need to we can expand it."
Mr. Killmurray also said that the ordinance should focus on multifamily units. He sad that single family rental homes are usually kept up by their owners because it is a personal investment.
"Usually, the owner of a rental house has a vested interest in the property," Mr. Killmurray said. "You would think that would happen in multifamily units."
He said if the township has enough money to inspect single-family homes, townhouses and condominiums, he would not oppose it. He said the first priority should be the multifamily units.

