[Adopted 5-19-2009 by Ord. No. 09-09]
The above recitals are incorporated herein as if fully set forth.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said recitals read as follows:
WHEREAS, the Governing Body of the Borough of Westwood finds that the general public, health, safety and welfare is preserved and sustained by the provision of safe, clean and habitable housing and with reasonable regulations designed and enforced to encourage the nuisance-free and peaceable enjoyment of residents collectively within Westwood; and
WHEREAS, the Borough of Westwood recognizes that a need for an organized registration and inspection program of all residential rental dwelling units within the Borough of Westwood is necessary and appropriate to ensure that rental property is maintained to enhance the public health and safety of tenants and their neighbors; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED as follows:
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings. Terms not defined herein shall be given their ordinary meanings unless defined by New Jersey statutes.
BOARDINGHOUSE
As defined in N.J.S.A. 55:13B-3.
[1]
DWELLING UNIT
One room, or a suite of two or more rooms, or a single-family detached residence designed for or used by one family or household unit for living and sleeping purposes.
HOUSEHOLD
A group of individuals, not necessarily related by blood, marriage, adoption, or guardianship, living together in a dwelling unit like a family as a single housekeeping unit with common access to and common use of all living and eating areas and all areas and facilities for the preparation and serving of food within the dwelling unit. (Any person residing on the premises not a member of a household shall be counted as residing in an additional dwelling unit.)
INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE
The International Property Maintenance Code adopted by ordinance for use by the Borough of Westwood.[2]
LANDLORD AND TENANT REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE
A document issued by the Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer certifying that a particular dwelling unit has been registered and is in compliance with this article.
OWNER
The individual or individuals, natural or corporate, in possession of lawful title to property in the absence of substantial evidence to the contrary. The ownership records of the County of Bergen Clerk's Office used for property tax purposes shall be conclusive evidence of the ownership of property regulated pursuant to this article.
PUBLIC OFFICER
The Borough of Westwood employee(s) designated by the Governing Body to enforce the provisions of this article.
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL DWELLING UNIT
A dwelling unit in which persons comprising a family or household and living together as such are permitted to reside in return for financial or other consideration; a dwelling unit which is rented.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 260, Property Maintenance.
A. 
Owner residential rental registration. Unless exempted hereby, every owner of a building containing a residential rental dwelling unit within the Borough of Westwood shall file an application on a landlord and tenant registration form. A landlord and tenant registration certificate and a zoning compliance certificate are required for said unit, prior to the occupancy of said unit and for each residential rental dwelling unit in the building, from the Borough of Westwood prior to leasing, subleasing, renting or allowing the occupancy of such residential rental dwelling unit, whether or not for consideration. In the case of multiple owners of any such dwelling, it shall be sufficient for any one of the owners to have obtained a certificate for a unit.
B. 
The landlord and tenant registration form and fees and inspections shall be in addition to any other Borough requirements and shall be in writing and on a form provided by the Borough of Westwood's Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer or his/her designee. Such form shall specifically require the following minimum information:
(1) 
The name, address and phone number of the property owner and the lessee and, if the owner is not a natural person, the name, address and phone number of a designated agent for the owner;
(2) 
The name, address and phone number of any person authorized to make or order to be made repairs or services for the property if in violation of Borough or state codes, if the person is different than the owner;
(3) 
The street address and apartment number of the rental property and the lot and block;
(4) 
The number, types and approximate size and location of dwelling units within the rental property;
(5) 
The name of all tenants over the age of 18;
(6) 
The number of children 18 years of age and younger in each dwelling unit;
(7) 
A copy of the lease/rental agreement showing term dates;
(8) 
The most recent zoning compliance certificate; and
(9) 
Such other information as the Zoning and Code Enforcement or Housing Officer, or his/her designee, may reasonably request on a standard form to be furnished.
A. 
Owner residential rental registration fee. There shall be a fee for the initial registration of any residential rental dwelling unit in the amount of $100. The Zoning Officer is empowered to waive this registration fee where a valid continuing certificate of occupancy has been issued and continues in effect.
B. 
Change in tenancy during the year. Whenever there is a change in tenancy of a registered residential rental dwelling unit, the owner must register the proposed change on forms to be provided by the Borough and be reinspected prior to occupancy. The fee for the change in tenancy shall be $50.
Upon receipt of an application for an initial registration or change to initial registration, the Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer, within 10 business days, shall perform an inspection of the property to determine whether such property complies with the provisions of applicable rules, codes and statutes, including the International Property Maintenance Code[1] and Chapter 195, Land Use and Development, of the Code of the Borough of Westwood. The Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer shall, within five days of the inspection, issue the landlord and tenant registration certificate if the property complies. No landlord and tenant registration certificate shall be issued if the premises and building fail to comply in a material manner with the provisions of the applicable rules, codes and statutes.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 260, Property Maintenance.
A. 
The Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer shall inspect the exterior and interior of each unit for which a landlord and tenant registration certificate has been issued or requested or upon amendment of same and will coordinate such inspection, whenever possible, with the Fire Code Officer or other official.
B. 
In an owner-occupied dwelling, the owner-occupied portion shall not be subject to inspection.
Whenever necessary to make an inspection to enforce any of the provisions of this article, or whenever the Zoning and Code Enforcement or Housing Officer, or his/her authorized representative, has reasonable cause to believe that there exists in any residential rental dwelling units any condition or violation which makes such residential rental dwelling units or premises unsafe, dangerous or hazardous, the Zoning and Code Enforcement or Housing Officer, or his/her authorized representative, may enter such dwelling building or premises at all reasonable times to inspect the same or to perform any duty imposed by this article, provided that such entry is pursuant to the law.
A. 
No person shall rent or suffer to be occupied an unregistered residential rental dwelling unit in a building which such person owns or otherwise controls. The owner of any residential rental dwelling unit bears the burden of proof in certifying that such premises is lawfully authorized to be utilized and operated as a residential rental dwelling unit.
B. 
No person shall charge, demand, receive or accept any rent or other payment for use or occupancy of any residential premises within the Borough of Westwood which are used or occupied in violation of Chapter 195, Land Use and Development, of the Code of the Borough of Westwood. Each such charge, demand, receipt or acceptance of rent or other payment in violation hereof shall constitute a separate offense.
A. 
Any landlord and tenant registration certificate may be revoked or suspended at any time during the life of said certificate for cause, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) 
Violation of the provisions of this article or any other ordinance or law pertaining to the use of the property;
(2) 
False or misleading information given or provided in connection with the registration application or renewal;[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
(3) 
Failure to pay any fee herein provided for;
(4) 
Failure to permit lawful inspections;
(5) 
Failure to correct violations in the time period prescribed; and
(6) 
Violations committed or permitted by the registered owner and/or the owner's designated agent of any rules, codes, statutes and ordinances relating to, pertaining to, or governing the premises, including the International Property Maintenance Code.[2],[3]
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 260, Property Maintenance.
[3]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
Where a violation has been identified as being committed by a tenant, and the landlord is actively pursuing eviction of said tenant, the landlord shall be entitled to successive sixty-day grace periods until the eviction proceedings are concluded.
C. 
A suspended landlord and tenant registration shall be reinstated when the circumstances leading to the suspension have been remedied, and a reinstatement fee of $200 has been paid.
A. 
Whenever the Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer determines that any residential rental dwelling fails to meet any requirements set forth in the applicable rules, standards, statutes or ordinances, including the International Property Maintenance Code,[1] the Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer, or other appropriate official, may, in their discretion, suspend or revoke the certificate or issue a correction notice setting forth the violations and ordering the occupant, owner and/or owner's designated agent to correct such violations.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 260, Property Maintenance.
B. 
This notice and order shall:
(1) 
Be in written form;
(2) 
Describe the location and nature of the violation in detail; and
(3) 
Establish a reasonable time for the correction of any violation.
C. 
Failure to correct violations within the time period stated in the correction order shall be a violation of law and this article. If the correction order relates to actions or omissions of the occupant, and the occupant fails to make the necessary correction, the landlord may be required to remedy the condition by whatever means necessary.
The violation of any provision of this article shall be deemed a municipal offense. Any person violating the provisions of this article shall be fined as per Borough regulations and/or as allowed by state statute. Each separate day of violation constitutes a separate and punishable offense.
Nothing in this article shall prevent the Borough of Westwood from taking action under any applicable rule, standard, statute, or ordinance for violations thereof to seek either injunctive relief or criminal prosecution for such violations as therein provided. Nothing contained in this article shall prevent the Borough of Westwood from seeking injunctive relief against a property owner or designated agent who fails to comply with the terms and conditions of this article on registration and licensing, including an order prohibiting the occupancy of such rental units until violations of this article have been remedied by the property owner or designated agent.