[Added 4-10-2018 by Ord.
No. 07-18]
A.
The Township Council recognizes that there are residential premises
throughout the Township that are subject to illegal tenancies due
to unsuitable building conditions which violate zoning and/or housing
codes of the state and/or Township, and require demolition or rehabilitation
of the premises necessitating relocation of the tenants.
B.
In the event that the displacement of tenants occur due to such conditions,
the landlord is liable to the tenant for relocation costs.
A.
Any tenant who receives a notice of eviction, pursuant to N.J.S.A.
2A:18-61.2, that results from a zoning or code enforcement activity
for an illegal occupancy which the landlord must correct, pursuant
to N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1g, or as a result of being cited by local or
state housing inspectors or zoning officers, and it is unfeasible
to correct such illegal occupancy without removing the tenant, shall
be considered a displaced person and 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/building shall be liable
for the payment of such relocation assistance.
B.
The Township may pay relocation assistance from the relocation assistance
fund to any displaced person who has not received the required payment
from the owner/landlord of the structure at the time of eviction.
C.
All relocation assistance costs incurred by the Township pursuant
to this chapter shall be repaid by the owner/landlord of the structure
to the Township in the same manner as relocation costs are billed
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 20:4-4.1 and 20:4-4.2.
D.
All repayments shall be deposited into the Township's relocation
assistance fund.
A.
The Township does hereby establish a relocation assistance fund into
which shall be deposited the following sums:
(1)
Any relocation costs and the interest thereon paid by an owner of
real property who has been liable for a civil or criminal penalty
in the case of any displacement of persons by housing or construction
code enforcement pursuant to law.
(2)
Any sums realized by the Township upon enforcement of the Township's
liens or liquidation of any property acquired by virtue of enforcement
pursuant to law.
(3)
Any sums realized by the Township relating to any relocation cost
and interest thereon upon enforcement or liquidation of any property
acquired by virtue of enforcement and collected pursuant to law.
B.
Money appropriated from the fund shall be used to provide relocation
assistance.
A.
In addition to requiring reimbursement from the owner/landlord of
the structure for relocation assistance paid to a displaced tenant,
a separate fine for zoning or housing code violations for an illegal
occupancy shall be assessed, up to an amount to six times the monthly
rental paid by the displaced person, to the Township by the owner
of the structure.
B.
For any second or subsequent violation of this chapter and after
notice and an opportunity to be heard, the Township shall impose a
fine equal to the annual tuition cost of any resident of the illegally
occupied unit attending a public school, which fine shall be recovered
in a civil action by a summary proceeding in the name of the Township,
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:58-10 et seq. The Municipal Court and the
Superior Court shall have jurisdiction of proceedings for the enforcement
of this penalty pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1g.
