SOUTH RIVER–The Borough Council adopted an ordinance amending the municipal code to require that an annual inspection be conducted at any landlords’ rental properties.
“[This ordinance] requires landlords to have an annual inspection of their rental properties to ensure the properties comply with the borough’s property maintenance code. After a successful inspection, the borough will issue a rental certificate of occupancy which will be valid for one year,” Borough Administrator Art Londensky said.
The construction official will prepare appropriate application forms for the rental certificate of occupancy and will make those forms available in the Construction office, according to the council.
These forms will be requested and completed by the owner, agent, broker or other individuals of the rental properties, inspections arranged for, completed and certificate granted annually, according to the council.
The council adopted the ordinance on Aug. 24 during the council meeting via video conference.
“Since the removal of the requirement that landlords receive a Certificate of Continued Occupancy after every change in tenancy, the borough has received complaints that many rental properties have fallen into disarray and various landlords have stopped maintaining their rental properties,” Londensky said. “Therefore, the council adopted the ordinance to hold landlords accountable in maintaining their properties.”
Londensky said the ordinance protects the tenants of these properties and the public by ensuring the properties are properly maintained pursuant to the borough’s property maintenance code.
In related news, the council also adopted an ordinance amending the municipal code to require that landlords must pay a $100 reinspection fee.
For a certificate of occupancy, certificate of continuing occupancy or rental certificate of occupancy, for all residential and commercial structures, the fee will be $100. If an inspection is required, there will be an additional fee of $100 for the first reinspection, according to the council.
This fee will be paid along with the application, and the reinspection fee will be pard at the time of the requested reinspection, according to the council.
The fee for additional reinspections after the first reinspection due to continued denial will be $125, according to the council.
For more information, visit www.southrivernj.org/agendas/council/.
Contact Vashti Harris at [email protected].