ALLENTOWN: Borough to register rental units

By David Kilby, Special Writer
   ALLENTOWN — Landlords renting out residential or commercial units in the borough are now asked to submit a landlord registration certificate for each of their rental units, so the borough and tenants may have better access to important information regarding the property being rented.
   The ordinance was unanimously adopted by the Allentown Borough Council at its Feb. 19 meeting.
   The certificate of registration shall be submitted every year by July 1, or at the time of the creation of first tenancy, by every landlord renting out a one-dwelling or commercial unit rental or a two-dwelling or commercial unit non-owner occupied premises, according to the ordinance.
   The registration will provide a copy of all certificates of occupancy, the names and contact information of all tenants, of property owners, and of any additional managers or caretakers of the property, as well as the name and address of the oil dealer if the unit is oil heated.
   Every landlord is then asked to submit the registration to the municipal clerk with a $25 fee, and provide each occupant or tenant in the building with a copy of the certificate of registration.
   If a landlord does not provide the certificate within 30 days of the July 1 deadline, he or she may face imprisonment for no more than 90 days, a fine not to exceed $2,000, or community service for no more than 90 days, according to the ordinance.
   ”We basically have an obligation to every person in the Borough of Allentown whether they own a property or are a tenant in a rented property,” Mayor Stuart Fierstein said at the meeting.
   He also said the borough has reviewed the process involving landlord registration certificates in other towns such as Princeton, Cranbury and Robbinsville and agreed that Allentown should have a similar process.
   ”From those documents we’re adopting this ordinance,” he said, adding that the borough based its form on the one used by Robbinsville.
   Bill Hornung of South Main Street asked if the $25 fee will cover the administrative costs of the program.
   ”I think the fee as an opening issue is minimal,” the mayor replied. “There are some towns that have a much higher fee, but we felt we’re looking for compliance.”
   He said every time someone moves into a home, someone has to pay for a certificate of occupancy for the home, whether it be the seller, mortgage company, or the person moving in. He added that someone moving into an apartment also has the right to have a CO of the apartment done.
   ”Just about every Realtor who sells a property is going to follow through with this process whether there’s a mortgage company involved or just a responsible person involved,” the mayor said. He added that the purpose of the amendment is to make sure everyone who moves into a rental has the assurance that a CO is done, because it is a requirement before someone moves in.
   The mayor said after going through the CO’s that have been done over the past five years in Allentown, there are none for apartments.
   ”And yet people live in these apartments,” he added. “People may not know who to call in an emergency. People may not know a lot of things about the apartment — like how it’s heated. Whatever may be the process, there needs to be the same responsibility for those people living in this community as there is for somebody purchasing a property in this community.”
   He added that the borough is looking for compliance rather than profit. Mr. Hornung was concerned that this process would make more work for the municipal office and require more hours for part-time employees.
   ”We’ll be able to handle the process of this in the office,” Mayor Fierstein answered. “It probably will involve additional inspections for the housing code enforcement, but those are paid as they’re incurred, so it’s not a new fixed expense.”