The East Brunswick Township Council has authorized liens to be placed on more than a dozen homes to address what officials say is a growing problem of vacant properties not being maintained.
A total of 15 liens have been placed on residential properties in the township that have been deemed unkempt under East Brunswick’s property maintenance code, which requires that turf grass and weeds not exceed 10 inches in height.
The action taken at the Aug. 11 meeting authorizes liens in the amount of $4,994 to cover the cost of hiring landscapers to perform property maintenance, such as mowing lawns and picking up trash on the unkempt properties.
According to Code Enforcement Officer Colleen Leroy, most of the homes are vacant.
Township Administrator James White said the number of properties being issued liens has risen in recent years due to a prolonged economic slump.
“We’ve seen an increase in this with the downturn in the economy,” White said. “Ten years ago, we didn’t get that many [properties being issued liens]. There were always four or five or six, but not that many. And we’ve seen an increase in the past four or five years.”
According to White, the number of foreclosures in the township has also increased in recent years.
Liens were placed on properties on North Drive, Thrush Drive, Old Stage Road, Smiths Lane, Morris Court, Williamsburg Court, Harrison Avenue, Sanford Road, Hilltop Boulevard, Lois Avenue, Peach Orchard Drive and Loren Terrace.
Three separate liens were placed on a property on Fresh Ponds Road.
In November 2013, the Township Council issued 34 liens, totaling $6,635. Several of the properties that were issued liens in November were also issued liens on Aug. 11.
White said the township has received complaints from neighbors about the unkempt homes.