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 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 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 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
and repair and to perform all other acts required to guarantee the
completion of the 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.