In applying and interpreting this chapter, the following definitions
shall be used:
DWELLING UNIT
Any room or rooms, or suite of apartment thereof, whether furnished
or unfurnished, which is occupied or intended, arranged or designed to be
occupied for sleeping, dwelling or residence purposes by one or more persons.
EMERGENCY CONDITION
Any condition dangerous or injurious to the health or safety of the
occupants of a building or occupants of neighboring buildings which arises
out of any of the following circumstances or conditions:
A.
Lack of adequate ventilation or light.
B.
Lack of adequate and properly functioning sanitary facilities.
C.
Lack of adequate and healthful water supply.
D.
Structural, mechanical or electrical defects which increase the hazards
of fire, accident or other calamity.
E.
From October 1 of each year until the next succeeding May 1, failure
to maintain every unit of dwelling space and every habitable room therein
at a temperature of at least 68° F. whenever the outside temperature falls
below 55° F. during the daytime hours of 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., or failure
to maintain every unit of dwelling space and every habitable room therein
at a temperature of at least 55° F. whenever the outside temperature falls
below 40° F. during the nighttime hours of 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. In
meeting the aforesaid standards, the owner shall not be responsible for heat
loss and the consequent drop in the interior temperature arising out of action
by the occupants in leaving windows or doors open to the exterior of the building.
MULTIPLE DWELLING
Any building or structure of one or more stories and any land appurtenant
thereto and any portion thereof in which four or more dwelling units are occupied
or are intended to be occupied by four or more persons who live independently
of each other. Premises which are used primarily for purposes other than sleeping,
dwelling or residence purposes shall not be considered a "multiple dwelling."
TRAILER COURTS
A plot or plots of land upon which two or more trailers are leased
upon which trailer owners lease space is herewith included under the terms
and conditions of a dwelling unit above except that the security deposit shall
be 50% of the amount required for apartment multiple dwellings as set forth
herein.
[Added 10-20-1980 by Ord. No. D-325]
The owner of a multiple dwelling shall deposit with the Multiple-Dwelling
Emergency Commission of Old Bridge security funds to be used for the repair,
maintenance, supply or replacement of those items of structure, equipment
or supplies which are necessary to correct, eliminate or alleviate an emergency
condition.
A. The amount of the security funds to be deposited with
the Commission shall be computed in the following manner:
(1) Where the owner owns between four and 25 dwelling units, the
owner shall deposit $100 for each dwelling unit.
(2) Where the owner owns between 26 and 40 dwelling units,
the owner shall deposit $2,500 for the first 25 units and $50 for each additional
dwelling unit owned.
(3) Where the owner owns more than 40 dwelling units, the
owner shall deposit $2,500 for the first 25 units, $50 per unit for the next
15 units and $30 per unit for each additional dwelling unit.
B. In no event shall an owner be required to deposit more
than $5,000 in security funds pursuant to this chapter. All funds required
to be deposited under the terms of this chapter shall be deposited with the
Commission by delivering such funds to the office of the Township Treasurer
within 10 days after receipt of notice from the Commission of the amount due.
Notice of the amount due may be given by the Commission or its agent by personally
delivering same to the owner or the owner's agent, servant, employee or joint
venturer on the owner's premises or by certified mail sent to the owner's
last registered address. Upon receipt of such security funds, the Treasurer
shall deposit same in a demand account in the name of the Commission in trust
for the owners. The Finance Director shall invest such moneys in the same
manner as municipal funds. Interest received on such accounts shall accrue
to the particular owners on whose behalf the account is maintained by the
Commission.
Any person found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this chapter
shall, upon conviction thereof, pay a fine not exceeding $500. Each day that
a violation occurs shall be considered a separate offense.