WOODBRIDGE — In a one year span, some 3,474 notices of violation have been issued to property owners charging various quality-of-life violations in Woodbridge’s continuous effort to weed out illegal and overcrowded housing.
Most recently, a property owner had been fined $5,000 for allegedly operating an illegal multi-family rooming house in a residential neighborhood in the Iselin section of the township.
Abha Desai appeared in Woodbridge Township Municipal Court on Sept. 14 and pleaded guilty to maintaining an illegal basement apartment. Municipal Court Judge David Stahl imposed the fine and ordered the property owner to correct the illegal conditions and submit to re-inspection.
In July, the Woodbridge Township Bureau of Housing and Inspection responded to a complaint alleging Desai, owner of a Sonora Avenue residence, was renting converted rooms to tenants for $1,200 to $1,600 per month.
Township inspectors determined at least 10 renters were occupying converted rooms in the basement, main living area and second floor of the residence at the time inspection on July 31. Further inspection of the property uncovered clear evidence of single-room occupancy as opposed to use of the home as a traditional single-family residential property.
Desai was issued violation notices for maintaining an illegal multi-family dwelling, illegal basement apartment, failure to register the property as a rental unit and non-permitted use of a residential property.
“Illegal and overcrowded housing and property maintenance violations are the most significant issues that impact the quality of life for township residents,” Mayor John E. McCormac said.
The mayor said recent inspections by the Code Enforcement Task Force have uncovered violations, which range from illegal rooming/boarding houses and multi-family dwellings and accumulated trash and debris to potentially dangerous building code violations, residential properties being used for commercial purposes and numerous violations for the illegal posting of advertising signs and placards.
“We will continue to target illegal housing, issue violation notices, and seek maximum penalties against property owners and landlords who violate township ordinances,” he said.
McCormac said the Code Enforcement Task Force issued 3,474 notices of violation charging property owners with various quality-of-life violations from May 2017 to May 2018.
Township residents are encouraged to report property and housing violations and other quality of life violations to the Bureau of Housing at 732-634-4500 ext. 6009. All complaints will be investigated and all information will remain confidential.