The purpose of this chapter is to provide for relocation assistance
to certain eligible persons who are displaced due to illegal occupancy,
fire or other emergency and to create a revolving fund for the making
of such assistance.
Any tenant who receives a notice of eviction pursuant to Section
3 of P.L. 1974, c. 49 (N.J.S.A. 2A: 18-61.2) that results from zoning
or code enforcement activity for an illegal occupancy, as set forth
in Paragraph (3) of Subsection g of Section 2 of P.L. 1974, c. 49
(N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1), shall be considered a displaced person and
shall be entitled to relocation assistance in an amount equal to six
times the monthly rental paid by the displaced person. The owner-landlord
of the structure shall be liable for the payment of relocation assistance
pursuant to this section.
The municipality may pay relocation assistance to any displaced person who has not received the required payment from the owner-landlord of the structure at the time of eviction pursuant to §
382-2 of this chapter from a revolving relocation assistance fund established pursuant to Section 2 of P.L. 1987, c. 98 (N.J.S.A. 20:4-4.1a). All relocation assistance costs incurred by a municipality pursuant to this section shall be repaid by the owner-landlord of the structure to the municipality in the same manner as relocation costs are billed and collected under Section 1 of P.L. 1983, c. 536 (N.J.S.A. 20:4-4.1) and Section 1 of PL. 1984, c. 30 (N.J.S.A. 20:4-4.2). These repayments shall be deposited into the municipality's revolving relocation assistance fund.
Any person requesting payment of relocation assistance from
the municipality through the revolving relocation assistance fund
shall make such request to the Housing Officer or Construction Official.
No payment may be made absent recommendation from the Housing Officer
or Construction Official and approval of the Administrator. In the
absence of the Administrator, payment may be authorized by the Mayor
or the Chief Financial Officer and is subject to verification by the
Chief Financial Officer that funds are available for such purpose.
In addition to requiring reimbursement from the owner-landlord
of the structure for relocation assistance paid to a displaced tenant,
the owner-landlord may be fined for zoning or housing code violation
for an illegal occupancy, up to an amount equal to six times the monthly
rental paid by the displaced person, to be paid to the municipality
by the owner-landlord of the structure.
The Borough shall create a revolving relocation assistance fund
to be funded in such amount as may be determined by the Borough for
the purposes set forth herein.
Any owner or landlord who has received a notice that an additional
fine for zoning or housing code violation shall be entitled to a hearing
before the Construction Code Official or the Housing Officer, depending
upon which is the applicable fining officer, within 10 days after
receipt of notice that a fine is intended to be imposed.