Notwithstanding N.J.S.A. 54:5-19 or the provisions of any other law
to the contrary, if a property is included on the abandoned property
list and the property taxes or other Township liens due on the property
are delinquent six or more quarters as of the date of expiration of
the right to appeal inclusion on the list, or if an appeal has been
filed, as of the date that all opportunities for appeal of inclusion
on the list, or, if an appeal has been filed, as of the date that
all opportunities for appeal of inclusion on the list have been exhausted,
then the tax lien on the property may be sold in accordance with the
procedures in the "tax sale law," N.J.S.A. 54:5-1 et seq., on or after
the 90th day following the expiration of that time of appeal or final
determination on an appeal, as appropriate. The Township may, at its
option, require that the sale of the tax sale certificate or any subsequent
assignment or transfer of a tax sale certificate held by the Township
be subject to the express condition that the purchaser or assignee
shall be obliged to perform and conclude any rehabilitation or repairs
necessary to remove the property from the abandoned property list
pursuant to Section 36 of P.L. 1996, c. 62 (N.J.S.A. 55:19-55) and
to post a bond in favor of the Township to guarantee the rehabilitation
or repair of the property. The public officer may waive a requirement
to post a bond imposed by the Township for any purchaser, assignee
or transferee of a tax sale certificate that provides documentation
acceptable to the public officer that the purchaser, assignee or transferee
is a qualified rehabilitation entity as defined in Section 3 of P.L.
2003, c. 210 (N.J.S.A. 55:19-80). The cost of rehabilitation and repairs
and the cost of the bond shall be added to the amount required to
be paid by the owner for redemption of the property. The purchaser,
assignee or transferee of the tax sale certificate who is required
to rehabilitate and repair the property shall be required to file
the appropriate affidavits with the Tax Collector, pursuant to N.J.S.A.
54:5-62, representing the amounts of monies expended periodically
toward the rehabilitation or repair of the property. A purchaser,
assignee or transferee shall be entitled to interest on the amounts
expended, as set forth in the affidavits, at the delinquent rate of
interest for delinquencies in excess of $1,500 pursuant to N.J.S.A.
54:4-67 of the Township in effect for the time period when the amounts
were expended. The tax sale certificate purchaser, assignee or transferee,
under the auspices and with the authority of the Township, shall be
permitted to enter in and upon the property for the purposes of appraising
the costs of rehabilitation or repair of the property. No rehabilitation
or repair work shall be commenced, however, until proof of adequate
liability insurance and an indemnification agreement holding the Township
harmless is filed with the public officer. If the tax sale certificate
is not purchased at the initial auction of the tax sale certificate
and the Township purchases the certificate pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54:5-34,
then the Township is authorized and empowered to convey and transfer
to the authority or any of its subsidiaries, without receiving compensation
therefore, all of its rights, title and interest in that certificate;
however, any portion of the amount paid to the Tax Collector to redeem
the tax sale certificate that represents tax or other Township lien
delinquencies and subsequent Township liens, including interest, shall
be returned by the Tax Collector or the Township.