[Added 12-20-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-19]
The purpose of this article is to ensure the health, safety
and welfare of all tenants residing in rental properties, as well
as all other residents of the Township of Frelinghuysen.
[Added 12-20-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-19]
For use in this article only, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
LANDLORD AND OWNER
Any person who owns any legally cognizable interest in any
rental property, including, but not limited to, outright ownership
or ownership through a partnership, corporation or limited liability
company.
OWNER-OCCUPIED
The primary residential living unit of the owner is located
within the rental property.
RENTAL PROPERTY
Any house, structure, building or structure rented or offered
for rent, for living and dwelling purposes to individuals or family
units.
RENTAL UNIT
Any individual unit located within a rental property, and
which is rented or offered for rent for living and dwelling purposes
to individuals or family units.
TENANTS
Those persons who have leased the rental unit from the owner,
regardless of the type of tenancy under which they occupy the rental
unit.
[Added 12-20-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-19]
a. The provisions of this article shall not apply to owner-occupied
units located within a rental property.
b. The provisions of this article shall not apply to rental properties
under the supervision of a public housing authority or that exclusively
provide restricted housing for the developmentally disabled.
[Added 12-20-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-19]
a. On or before January 1 of each year, the owner of every rental property
in the Township of Frelinghuysen and regulated by this article, with
the exception of owner-occupied two-unit premises, shall file a rental
property registration statement with the Municipal Clerk. Forms for
said filing can be obtained from the Municipal Clerk or from the Municipal
website. The Municipal Clerk shall provide copies of all rental property
registration statements to all applicable local agencies. Said information
will be kept confidential, and any personal identifying information
will not be distributed or utilized in any manner not set forth herein
unless required by law.
b. The rental property registration statement form shall require the
submission of the following information:
1. The name, address and telephone number of the record owner or owners
of the rental property. In the case of a partnership, the names of
all general partners shall be provided. If the record owner is a corporation
or limited liability company, the name and address of the registered
agent and corporate officers or principals of said corporation or
limited liability company;
2. If the address of any record owner is not located in the county in
which the rental property is located, the name, address and telephone
number of a person who resides in the county in which the rental property
is located and is authorized to accept notices from a tenant and to
issue receipts therefor and to accept service of process on behalf
of the record owner;
3. The name, address and telephone number of the managing agent of the
rental property, if any;
4. The name, address and telephone number, including the dwelling unit,
apartment or room number, of the superintendent, janitor, custodian
or other individual employed by the record owner or managing agent
to provide regular maintenance service, if any;
5. The name, address and telephone number of an individual representative
of the record owner or managing agent who may be reached or contacted
at any time in the event of an emergency affecting the rental property
or any unit of dwelling space therein, including such emergencies
as the failure of any essential service or system, and who has the
authority to make emergency decisions concerning the building, any
repair thereto, disruption of utilities or expenditures in connection
therewith and shall, at all times, have access to a current list of
building tenants that shall be made available to emergency personnel
as required in the event of an emergency;
6. The name and address of every holder of a recorded mortgage on the
rental property, and
7. If fuel is used to heat the building and the landlord furnishes the
heat in the building, the name and address of the fuel dealer servicing
the building and the type of fuel used.
c. Every landlord required to file a certificate of registration hereunder
file an amended certificate of registration within 20 days after any
change in the information required to be included thereon. No fee
shall be required for the filing of an amendment except where the
ownership of the premises is changed.
[Added 12-20-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-19]
a. The following is the rental unit license fee schedule:
Number of Units
|
Annual License Fee
|
---|
2 or fewer
|
$25
|
3 or more
|
$10 per unit
|
b. The annual rental unit license registration and fee are due and payable
to the Township of Frelinghuysen on January 1 of each year with a
thirty-day grace period for same. Failure to register as of February
1 will be considered in violation of this article and a late fee of
$5 per month, per unit, will be assessed.
[Added 12-20-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-19]
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article, upon conviction thereof, shall be liable to a penalty of not less than $50 nor more than $500 for each violation. In addition, the owner will be subject to the increased license fees established in §
19-5 for failure to timely register the rental unit.