[1]
Editor's Note: The provisions of this article were formerly included in Ch. 251, Art. I. Pursuant to Ord. No. 02-32, adopted 12-30-2002, they were relocated to this chapter.
[Amended 11-12-1980 by Ord. No. 80-31]
There is hereby established the Rent Stabilization Commission, hereinafter referred to as the “Commission.” Its members shall be appointed by the Township Committee. The membership shall consist of the Rent Control Officer, two landlords, two home owners and two tenants, each serving terms of two years’ duration. In addition there shall also be appointed one landlord alternate, one home owner alternate and one tenant alternate, also serving two-year terms. The alternates may sit at any meeting in place of an absent member of the same class. The Chairperson of the Commission shall be the rent control officer of Pennsauken Township. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the Commission.
The duties and powers of the Commission shall consist of the following:
A. 
To hold hearings and adjudicate applications from landlords for rent increases allowed by this article.
B. 
To hold hearings and adjudicate landlord applications for a hardship increase. These may be granted to the landlord when he or she has clearly shown the Commission that mortgage payments and maintenance costs cannot be met.
C. 
To determine and hold hearings in regard to the amount of proposed capital improvement surcharge to be allowed, if any, after consideration of the nature of the application, and the benefit to the tenant of a capital improvement surcharge, if any.
D. 
To hold hearings and determine whether the landlord applicant is an economically efficient operation and whether the return on the applicant’s investment is a just and reasonable rate of return. These decisions must only be made on applications for increases over 4% or the consumer price index of the Delaware Valley Region for the previous calendar year, whichever is the lower of the two percentages.
[Amended 4-23-1980 by Ord. No. 80-10; 2-10-1986 by Ord. No. 86-11]
E. 
To issue and promulgate such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to implement the purpose of this article. Said rules and regulations may be amended from time to time by the Rent Stabilization Commission in the exercise of its discretion. Such rules and regulations shall be filed with the Township Clerk.
[Amended 11-12-1980 by Ord. No. 80-31]
F. 
To supply information and assistance to landlords and tenants to help them comply with the provisions of this article.