Source: https://ecode360.com/7969752
Timestamp: 2018-02-19 14:06:53
Document Index: 61131594

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 419', '§ 419', '§ 419', '§ 419', '§ 419', '§ 419', '§ 419', '§ 419', '§ 419', '§ 419', '§ 419', '§ 419', '§ 419', '§ 419', '§ 419', '§ 419', '§ 419', '§ 419', '§ 419', '§ 419']

Township of Union, NJ Rental Property
Ch 419 Art I Registration and Licensing
§ 419-2 Registration.
§ 419-3 Registration and licensing; term; initial registration provisions.
§ 419-4 Registration forms; filing; contests.
§ 419-5 Registration form; amendments; filling.
§ 419-6 Periodic inspections.
§ 419-7 Access for inspections; repairs.
§ 419-8 Prohibitions on occupancy.
§ 419-9 License.
§ 419-10 Fees.
§ 419-11 Providing registration form to occupants and tenants.
§ 419-12 Maximum number of occupants; posting.
§ 419-13 Taxes and other municipal charges; payment precondition for registration and license.
§ 419-14 Occupant(s) standards.
§ 419-15 Revocation of license; procedure.
§ 419-16 Violations and penalties.
Chapter 419: Rental Property
Noise — See Ch. 585.
Chapter 419 : Rental Property
Article I: Registration and Licensing
[Adopted 4-25-2006 by Ord. No. 4946]
The individual or individuals designated by the owner as the person(s) authorized by the owner to perform any duty imposed upon the owner of this article. The term does not necessarily mean a licensed real estate broker or salesman of the State of New Jersey, as those terms are defined by N.J.S.A. 45:15-3; however, such term may include a licensed real estate broker or salesman of the State of New Jersey if such person designated by the owner as his agent is so licensed.
Any apartment, cottage, bungalow, any room or rooms in a rooming/boarding house or other dwelling unit, consisting of one or more rooms occupying all or part of a floor in a building, whether designed with or without housekeeping facilities for dwelling purposes and notwithstanding whether the apartment be designed for residence, for office or the operation of any industry or business or for any other type of independent use. Each unit shall contain no more than one kitchen or cooking facility.
Any room or rooms or suite or apartment, including any room or rooms in a room/boarding house, whether furnished or unfurnished, which is occupied or intended, arranged or designed to be occupied for sleeping or dwelling purposes by one or more persons, including but not limited to the owner thereof or any of his servants, agents or employees, and shall include all privileges, services, furnishings, furniture, equipment, facilities and improvements connected with use or occupancy thereof.
The license issued by the Township Clerk or designee attesting that the rental unit has been properly registered in accordance with this article.
The person to whom the license is issued pursuant to this article. The term "licensee" includes within its definition the term agent, where applicable.
A portion of a rental facility, dwelling, commercial unit or dwelling unit shall be considered owner-occupied if the owner makes his primary residence therein. A person may have only one primary residence in the Township.
All rental units, as defined in § 419-1, except for any building or buildings or structure comprising more than 20 dwelling units or apartments, shall hereafter be registered with the Township Clerk or designee of the Township of Union, on forms which shall be provided for that purpose, and which shall be obtained from the Township Clerk or designee. Such registration shall occur or an annual basis as provided herein.
Each rental unit shall be registered initially, yearly and with each change of occupancy. The license term shall commence on January 1, 2007, and shall be valid for a calendar year, at which time it shall expire and a new registration shall be required. All rental units must file an initial registration which shall be submitted on or before August 15, 2006.
Without in any way intending to infringe upon the requirements of N.J.S.A. 46:8-28, all rental units shall be registered and licensed as provided herein. Every owner shall file with the Township Clerk or designee of the Township of Union a registration form for each unit contained within a building or structure, which shall include the following information:
The name and address of the record owner or owners of the premises and the record owner or owners of the rental business, if not the same persons. In the case of a partnership, the name and addresses of all general partners shall be provided, together with the telephone numbers for each of such individuals where such individual may be reached both during the day and evening hours.
If the address of any record owner is not located in Union or in Union County, the name and address of a person who resides in Union County and who 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.
The name, address and telephone number of an individual representative of the owner or agent or the owner, if domiciled in Union County, who may be reached or contacted at any time in the event of emergency affecting the premises or any unit of dwelling space therein, including such emergencies as the future of any essential service or system, and who has the authority to make emergency decisions concerning the building and any repair thereto or expenditure in connection therewith.
If fuel oil is used to heat the building, the name and address of the fuel oil dealer servicing the building and the grade of the fuel oil used.
As to each rental unit, a specification of the exact number of sleeping rooms contained in the rental unit. In order to satisfy the requirement of this provision, an owner shall submit a floor plan, which shall become part of the application and which shall be attached to the registration form when filled by the Township Clerk or designee.
The names, age and gender of each tenant who is to occupy the dwelling unit.
Such other information as may be prescribed by the Township of Union.
The Township Clerk or designee shall index and file the registration forms. In doing so, The Township Clerk or designee shall follow the mandates of N.J.S.A. 46:8-28.1, as amended, so that the filing of the registration form will simultaneously satisfy the registration requirements of N.J.S.A. 46:8-28 to the extent that it applies to the property being registered, and will also satisfy the registration requirements of this article. The owner shall post the certificate of inspection or license.
Every person required to file a registration form pursuant to this article shall file an amended registration form within 20 days after any change in the information to be included thereon. No fee required for the filling of an amendment, except where the ownership of the premises is changed.
Each rental unit shall be inspected at least once a year.
Such inspections shall be performed by such person, persons or agency duly authorized and appointed by the Township of Union, and inspections made by persons or an agency other than the duly authorized and appointed person, persons or agency of the Township of Union shall not be used as a valid substitute.
Such inspection shall be for the purpose of determining zoning ordinance compliance, and to the extent applicable, to determine if the property complies with the Property Maintenance Code, BOCA Maintenance Code and Housing Code and/or Uniform Fire Safety Act.
Unsatisfactory inspection. In the event that the inspection(s) of a rental unit does not result in a satisfactory inspection, such property shall not thereafter be registered, nor shall a license issue, and the owner of the property or his agent shall not lease or rent such property, nor shall any tenant occupy the property, until the necessary corrections have been made so as to bring the property and rental unit into compliance with the applicable code, and the property is thereafter subsequently inspected, registered and licensed. In the event that the property is occupied when such conditions are discovered, all such corrections shall be made within 30 days, and, if not made within that time period, the owner shall be deemed in violation of this article, and, every day that the violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct violation, subject to the penalty provisions of § 419-16 of this article. The owner, however, shall be permitted to apply for extension of time to make repairs or corrections so as to comply with this article, for good cause shown, provided that such extension shall not exceed 30 days.
The inspection officers are hereby authorized to make inspections to determine the condition of rental facilities, rental units and rooming/boarding houses in order that they may promote the purposes of this article to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of the occupants of rental facilities, rental units and rooming/boarding houses and of the general public. For the purposes of making such inspections, the inspecting officers are hereby authorized to enter, examine and survey rental facilities, rental units and rooming/boarding houses at all reasonable times. The owner or occupant of every rental facility, rental unit and rooming/boarding house shall give the inspecting officer free access to the rental facility, rental unit and rooming/boarding house at all reasonable times for the purpose of such inspections, examinations and surveys.
Every occupant shall give the owner of the rental facility, rental unit and rooming/boarding house access to any part of such rental facility, rental unit and rooming/boarding house at all reasonable times for the purpose of making such repairs or alternations, as are necessary, to effect compliance with the provisions of this article or any lawful order issued pursuant thereto.
Complaints. Within 10 days of receipt of a complaint alleging a reported violation of this article, an inspecting officer shall conduct an inspection as hereinbefore provided.
No person shall hereafter occupy any rental unit, nor shall the owner permit occupancy of any rental unit within the Township of Union, which is not registered and licensed in accordance with this article.
Upon the filing of a completed registration form and payment of the prescribed fee and a satisfactory inspection, the owner shall be entitled to the issuance of a license commencing on the date of issuance and expiring on December 31 of the calendar year. A registration form shall be required for each rental unit, and license shall issue to the owner for each rental unit, if more than one rental unit is contained in the property.
At the time of the filling of the registration form, and prior to the issuance of a license, the owner or agent of the owner must pay a fee in accordance with the following:
An annual registration fee as follows:
A reinspection fee as follows:
First reinspection, no charge.
Second reinspection, $25 per unit.
Any additional reinspection, $50 per unit.
If the owner of the property is a senior citizen who resides in a unit of the properly and rents out the remaining unit and would otherwise qualify under the State of New Jersey property tax deduction under N.J.S.A. 54:4-8.41, there shall be no fee.
If the owner of the property is registered as 501(c)3 corps, and thus considered tax exempt by the IRS, or have similar tax exempt status from the State of New Jersey and file annual returns if they are incorporated, there shall be no fee.
If any fee is not paid within 30 days of its due date, a late fee surcharge of $30 will be assessed, a month, up to 90 days. A failure to pay the initial fee and any late fee shall be deemed a violation of this article.
A failure to pay any fee as required by this article shall be deemed a violation of this chapter.
Every owner shall provide each occupant or tenant occupying a rental unit with a copy of the registration form required by this article. This particular provision shall not apply to any hotel, motel or guesthouse registered with the State of New Jersey, pursuant to the Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Act, as defined in N.J.S.A. 55:13A-3. This provision may be complied with by posting a copy of the registration certificate in conspicuous place within the rental unit(s).
The maximum number of occupants, as determined by the Construction Code Official, shall be posted in each rental unit. It shall be unlawful for any person, including the owner, agent, tenant or registered tenant, to allow a greater number of persons than the posted maximum number of occupants to sleep in or occupy overnight the rental unit for a period exceeding 29 days. Any person violating this provision shall be subject to the penalty provisions of § 419-16 of this article.
Only those occupant's whose names are on file with the Township of Union, as required in this article, may reside in the licensed premises. It shall be unlawful for any other person to reside in said premises, and any owner, agent, tenant or registered tenant allowing a nonregistered party to reside in said premises shall be in violation of this section and shall be subject to the penalty provisions of § 419-16 of this article.
No rental unit may be registered and no license shall issue for a property containing a rental unit unless all municipal taxes, water and sewer charges and any other municipal assessments are paid on a current basis.
Occupants. Only those occupants whose names are on file with the Township Clerk, as provided in this article, may reside in the licensed premises. It shall be unlawful for any other person to reside in said premises, and this provision may be enforced against the landlord, tenant or other person residing in said premises.
Nuisance prohibited. No rental facility shall be conducted in a manner which shall result in any unreasonable disturbance or disruption to the surrounding properties and property owners or the public in general, such that it shall constitute a nuisance, as defined in the ordinances of the Township of Union.
Compliance with other laws. The maintenance of all rental facilities and the conduct engaged in upon the premises by occupants and their guests shall at all times be in full compliance with all applicable ordinances and regulations of the Township of Union and with all applicable state and federal laws.
Penalties. Any landlord, tenant or other person violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to the penalty provisions of § 419-16 of this article.
Continuously renting the unit or units to tenants who are convicted of a violation of the township's Noise Ordinance.[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 585, Noise.
A complaint seeking the revocation or suspension of a license may be filed by any one or more of the following: Director of Public Safety, Chief of Police, Construction Code Official, Housing Inspector, the Zoning Enforcement Officer or any other persons or office authorized to file such a complaint. Such complaint shall be in writing and filed with the Township Clerk or designee. The complaint shall be specific and shall be sufficient to apprise the licensee of the charges so as to permit the licensee to present a defense. The individual(s) filling the complaint may do so on the basis of information and belief, and need not rely on personal information.
Upon the filing of such written complaint, the Township Clerk or designee shall immediately inform the Township Committee, and a date for a hearing shall be scheduled, which shall not be sooner than 10 nor more than 30 days thereafter. The Township Clerk or designee shall forward a copy of the complaint and a notice, as to the date of the hearing, to the licensee and the agent, if any, at the address indicated on the registration form. Service upon the agent shall be sufficient.
The hearing required by this section shall be held before the Township Committee, unless, in its discretion, the Township Committee determines that the matter should be heard by a hearing officer, who shall be appointed by the Township Committee. If the matter is referred to a hearing officer, such officer shall transmit his findings of fact and conclusions of law to the Township Committee within 30 days of the conclusion of the hearing. The Township Committee shall then review the matter and may accept, reject or modify the recommendations of the hearing officer based on the record before such hearing officer. In the event that the matter is not referred to a hearing officer and is heard by the Township Committee, then the Township Committee shall render a decision within 30 days of the conclusion of the hearing. Following the hearing, a decision shall be rendered dismissing the complaint, revoking or suspending the license or determining that the license shall not be renewed or reissued for one or more subsequent license years.
Defenses. It shall be a defense to any proceeding for the revocation, suspension or other disciplinary action involving a rental license by demonstrating that the owner has taken appropriate action and has made a good faith effort to abate the conditions or circumstances giving rise to the revocation proceeding, including but not limited to the institution of legal action against the tenant(s), occupant(s) or guests for recovery of the premises, eviction of the tenant(s) or otherwise.
Any person violating or failing to comply with any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine of no less than $100 and no more than $1,250, by imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or by community service of not more than 90 days, or any combination of fine, imprisonment and community service, as determined in the discretion of the Municipal Court Judge. The continuation of such violation for each successive day shall constitute a separate offense, and the person or persons allowing or permitting the continuation of the violation may be punished as provided above for each separate offense.