Bloomfield Denies Claims Of ‘Obstruction’ From Rent Leveling Board, Litigation Looms

This article was updated on Oct. 10 with an additional statement from Doug Grant

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Several members of the Bloomfield Rent Leveling Board are accusing township officials of standing in the way of their efforts to watchdog local landlords – a claim that administrators are calling “baseless and misleading.”

Earlier this week, the board’s chair, Doug Grant, released a statement that outlines the allegations. View it online here.

According to Grant, the board has been attempting to investigate nine years of “missing” landlord rent roll records in the township. The gap may have left Bloomfield tenants vulnerable to illegal rent increases, he says.

Grant alleged that the board has faced a “pattern of obstruction” in the past, including:

• “The administration's unilateral decision to block a rule passed by the board that would have mandated the electronic submission of rent rolls.”
• “The belief that the nine years of rent rolls are not merely ‘missing’ but are being actively hidden, despite evidence that some landlords have submitted them.”
• “The administration's refusal to allow the board's operational issues to be placed on the public agenda of the Township Council, preferring only ‘informal, back-door conversations.’”
• “The recent suspension of all board meetings after the board's attorney resigned, and the administration refused to provide the basic administrative support necessary to post a public agenda.”

A township spokesperson denied Grant’s accusations when reached for comment.

“These allegations are baseless and misleading,” she told Patch.

“Mr. Grant’s assertions misrepresent the township’s actions and overlook significant progress made to support both tenants and landlords,” the town’s spokesperson continued. “Over the past year, substantial work has been undertaken to improve transparency, streamline administrative systems, and enhance access to information through the township’s website. The administration is proud of these improvements and the steps taken to strengthen systems while maintaining public trust.”

“Bloomfield remains committed to ensuring transparency, accountability, and fair housing protections for all residents, and will continue to take proactive steps to improve the Rent Leveling process,” she said.

According to the township, administrators are standing by their July 10 statement, which detailed Bloomfield’s ongoing efforts to “modernize and strengthen the Rent Leveling process” and work collaboratively with the board to address its concerns.

“Due to impending litigation, no further comment will be provided at this time,” the town’s spokesperson added.

Grant told Patch that the Rent Leveling Board is not currently filing a lawsuit. He pointed to a Sept. 19 letter sent to the council and administration, which stated the board's prior vote to authorize a legal complaint was a preparatory measure, not an active filing.

According to township officials, the Rent Leveling Board serves a vital role in Bloomfield’s housing landscape. As a quasi-judicial body created voluntarily by township ordinance, the board is responsible for adjudicating disputes between landlords and tenants, including applications for rent increases, allegations of harassment, and requests for rent reductions due to service deficiencies.

Board members are appointed by the township council and serve as volunteers.

VIDEO STATEMENT

Grant has posted a video statement about the allegations on local Facebook group Bloomfield Pulse, which can be viewed online here.

“This is not a personality conflict – it is a fight for the integrity of a public body and for the rule of law,” Grant states in the video. “The stakes are the housing security of our residents and the public's trust in our government.”

The video got support from two members of the board: vice-chair Satenik Margaryan and Kevin Lindahl.

“The Rent Leveling Board has been rendered ineffective by governance failures and withheld data,” Margaryan claimed.

“Our request for a basic landlord database for rent-controlled units was dismissed despite the supposed existence of a rent-roll system that could supply it,” Margaryan added. “To make things worse: the board attorney quit just days before the scheduled meeting. The predictable result is that thousands of tenants remain unaware of the board and may have been harmed by years of inaction dating to 2016.”

Lindahl said he also agrees with Grant’s statement.

“The Town of Bloomfield passed a rent control ordinance in 2016 because tenants at the time were experiencing rent increases of up to 20 percent at the end of their leases,” Lindahl wrote. “The ordinance was desperately needed, as many tenants were being priced out of their own homes. I have no doubt that it was enacted with good intentions.”

“However, since 2016, something has changed: there has been a lack of enforcement to hold landlords accountable,” Lindahl continued.

“Consider this: if a tenant is unaware that their landlord is illegally raising their rent beyond the limits set by the Rent Control Ordinance, the town has an obligation to hold that landlord accountable and to impose fines for breaking the law,” Lindahl said. “Yet, for the past nine years, we have seen very little evidence of active enforcement.”

Two people who are running in the general election this November also backed Grant’s statement.

“The rent leveling committee has shown a terrific amount of patience waiting for the township to comply with the rent data, the secretary shuffle, an absent council liaison, and a disappearing attorney,” opined Joan Hussey, who is running for Bloomfield mayor as an independent.

“I commend their efforts,” she added.

Demetrius Eley – a Republican statehouse candidate in the 34th district – said he supports a “full and fair” investigation into the allegations.

“The people of Bloomfield deserve transparency, accountability and fairness from every level of their local government,” Eley said.

LEGAL COMPLAINT

The Rent Leveling Board voted to authorize the filing of a legal complaint against the township in Superior Court on July 9.

Bloomfield township administrators released a written response to the board’s vote the following day.

“While the township has not yet been served with the complaint and the specific legal relief being sought remains unclear, we are disappointed by this action, especially given the ongoing efforts to address the board’s concerns in a cooperative and constructive manner,” the statement read.

“Over the past year, the township has worked diligently to improve the Rent Leveling Process in response to concerns raised by the board,” the town’s statement claimed. “These efforts include working towards a transition to electronic rent roll submissions from landlords, finalizing new software to better manage data and case tracking, and making key forms and information more accessible through the township website.”

Several of these enhancements have already been completed, and others are in “advanced stages” of implementation, administrators said.

Mayor Jenny Mundell said the township has made it a priority to modernize and strengthen how it supports both tenants and landlords.

“Since taking office in November 2025, I have worked alongside Councilwoman Sarah Cruz, who serves as liaison to the Rent Leveling Board, as well as with township administration, to carefully evaluate and address concerns the board has raised,” Mundell said. “This includes not only updating administrative systems, but also reviewing the ordinance itself to ensure it reflects current needs and realities.”

“Most importantly, every tenant who has sought relief has had access to the process guaranteed under the law,” the mayor added.

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