Thread: N. Brunswick, NJ: law to get tough on overcrowded housing

mycentraljersey.com

January 2, 2009

New Brunswick gets tough on housing violations

By RICHARD KHAVKINE
Staff Writer

City landlords will no longer have lead time to correct overcrowding conditions in the residential buildings they own.

According to a newly passed City Council ordinance, municipal housing inspectors will be able to immediately issue summonses for overcrowding violations, rather than just issuing what in effect were warnings.

The city moved to change that aspect of its construction code after finding that though landlords would work to reduce the number of occupants in their buildings after being issued warnings, overcrowding conditions would soon resurface — without landlords ever being penalized, said city spokesman Bill Bray.

The ordinance goes into effect on Jan. 19.

Landlords suspected of abetting overcrowding will now face a municipal court appearance, and a judge will have the discretion of issuing fines as high as $1,000 per violation, Bray said.

"It is part of the city's efforts to get tough on landlords on overcrowding issues," he said.

Overcrowding is a perennial issue in city with a burgeoning immigrant population, and where more than a quarter of residents live below the poverty line.

Landlords, particularly those who live off-site, have said they sometimes have little knowledge how many persons end up living in a residence.

Slum Lords having to pay the price for fragrant violations ... whodathunkit

It's about time the rest of America wakes up