[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of High Bridge 2-9-2006 as Ch. 100 of the 2006 Code of the Borough of High Bridge.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Borough of High Bridge recognizes a need for an organized
inspection program of residential rental premises within the Borough
in order to upgrade rental units to meet Borough and state life safety,
health, fire and zoning codes, and to provide a more efficient system
compelling both absentee and local landlords to correct violations
and to maintain rental property in proper condition. The Borough hereby
determines that the most efficient system to provide for regular inspections
is the creation of a program requiring the registration of all residential
rental premises so that orderly inspection schedules may be arranged
and implemented.
As used in this chapter:
SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGA building containing one dwelling unit.
TWO-FAMILY DWELLING (DUPLEX)A building containing two dwelling units.
MULTIFAMILY DWELLINGA building containing more than two dwelling units.
A single unit providing complete independent living facilities
for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living,
sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.
Any corporation, firm, partnership, association, organization
or other entity, as well as an individual.
A rental dwelling unit, the public and/or common areas of
the dwelling of which the unit forms a part, and the real property
upon which such dwelling is located.
Any non-owner-occupied unit for the usage of which the occupant
provides consideration to the owner.
A component part of a building.
No person shall rent or allow to be rented to another person
for occupancy, any dwelling unit without first having made and filed
a registration statement with the Clerk of the Borough of High Bridge.
A.
Registration
shall be affected upon forms furnished by the Clerk for such purpose
and shall include the following minimum information:
(1)
Name, address and phone number of the dwelling unit owner.
(2)
Name, address and phone number of the local property manager if different
from the dwelling unit owner.
(3)
Street address of the dwelling.
(4)
The number of rental dwelling units within the dwelling.
(5)
The maximum number of occupants permitted for each rental dwelling
unit.
(6)
Name, address and phone number of the person authorized to make or
order the making of repairs or performance of services for the dwelling
unit if in violation of code, law, rule, regulation or ordinance,
if different from the owner or local manager or in the event of an
emergency and an inability to contact the person primarily authorized.
C.
Registration requirement shall also include the fuel oil number and
fuel oil supplier name address and phone number.
[Amended 6-13-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-13; 11-10-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-26]
Every dwelling must be registered between January 1 and January
31 of the registering year. Only one registration statement shall
be required for each dwelling in which all units are under common
ownership.
Every new owner of a rental dwelling unit, whether as fee owner
or contract purchaser, shall furnish the Clerk, prior to taking possession,
with any changes in the registration information occasioned by the
change in ownership. Provided the prior owner has complied with all
the requirements of this chapter and there are no outstanding violation
notices, no new registration fee shall be required until the next
annual registration is required.
[Amended 11-10-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-26]
The annual registration fee shall be as follows:
A.
Annual registration fee shall be set at $50.
B.
There shall be no fee for a two-family dwelling, one unit of which
is owner-occupied.
C.
A late fee of $250 per unit, starting February 1 of the registering
year, will be charged in addition to the annual registration fee,
upon late registration.
D.
A late fee of $100 per unit, starting March 1 of the registering
year, will be charged on the first of every month thereafter, in addition
to the annual registration fee and the $250 per unit late fee, upon
late registration.
E.
Completed, mailed applications with proper payment for the purpose of registering rental units with a postmark by the United States Post Office prior to February 1 in the application year will be accepted without late registration fees being due from the applicant, and the interest set forth in § 284-14C will not be charged on any penalties or arrears.
[Added 4-12-2018 by Ord.
No. 2018-016]
All premises, except those specifically herein exempted, shall
be systematically inspected by the Code Enforcement Officer and his
designees to determine compliance with all provisions of applicable
codes, laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances. The following rental
dwellings and premises shall not be subject to inspection pursuant
to this chapter:
All premises subject to inspection pursuant to this chapter
shall be inspected at least once every five years. For a period of
five years immediately following completion and issuance of a certificate
of occupancy for newly constructed buildings, no further inspections
shall be systematically scheduled. The owner of any dwelling unit
subject to this chapter shall notify the Code Enforcement Officer,
in writing, of any change of tenant within 30 days of such change;
and the Code Enforcement Officer shall inspect such premises within
90 days thereafter. Provided, however, the provisions of this section
shall not be construed to preclude more frequent inspections should
it be determined appropriate in the reasonable judgment of the Code
Enforcement Officer.
No person shall rent or allow to be rented to another person
for occupancy, any dwelling unit subject to inspection pursuant to
this chapter without first having obtained a valid, current certificate
of inspection.
A.
If upon completion of an inspection, the premises are in compliance
with all applicable codes, laws, rules, regulations and ordinances,
the Borough shall issue a certificate of inspection for the dwelling.
B.
If upon completion of an inspection the premises are not in such
compliance, a written notification of violation of the specific substantive
code, law, rule, regulation or ordinance shall be served upon the
owner or designated local property manager. The failure of the owner
to correct any such violation in accordance with the provisions of
the applicable substantive code, law, rule, regulation or ordinance
shall also be considered a violation of this chapter.
Any owner or designated local property manager may request an
inspection of a dwelling.
A certificate of inspection shall be transferable to a new owner, provided that the new owner has complied with the registration requirements of § 284-5, the prior owner has complied with all requirements of this chapter, and there are no outstanding violation notices.
Upon request of an existing or prospective tenant, the owner
or the owner's agent shall exhibit the certificate of inspection.
A.
The annual registration fee shall be and remain a lien upon the dwelling,
until fully paid and satisfied.
B.
If prompt payment shall not be made when due and shall remain in
arrears, the Tax Collector shall file a statement showing the amount
of the arrears, which shall be a lien on the real estate to the same
extent as taxes are a lien upon real estate in the Borough and shall
be collected and enforced by the Tax Collector in the same manner
as liens.
C.
Interest and penalties for arrears shall be assessed at the rate
of 8%.
