New Rental Regulations Resolve Landlord Suit

The Freehold Landlord Association of NJ (FLANJ) lawsuit against Freehold Borough has been resolved. At the Dec. 19, 2011 meeting a new renting and licensing ordinance was passed by the council.     

A on this matter explained that the lawsuit began in July with the FLANJ filing a suit against Freehold Borough in state Superior Court. The lawsuit was made in response to concerning registration fees and required inspections that were in an ordinance adopted by the Borough Council last year.

At the Dec. 5 council meeting, the introduction of a new ordinance was approved by the Borough Council. The new ordinance would regulate rental properties in the borough and was announced to be voted on at the Dec. 19 council meeting. If passed, the new ordinance would override the 2010 landlord ordinance. 

Prior to voting at the Dec. 19 meeting, Christopher Lopresti from the FLANJ addressed the Council. 

“We are pleased to have worked together with the borough to identify issues with the previous ordinance and to create a new ordinance that better meets the needs of the borough, residents, landlords and their tenants,” said Lopresti. 

The new ordinance was passed with three “yes” votes from the Council and is now considered law. Councilman George Schnurr and Councilman John Newman both absteined from voting, while Councilman Jaye Sims, Councilman Kevin Kane and Councilman Michael DiBenedetto all voted yes. Councilwoman Sharon Shutzer was present for the Dec. 19 meeting but arrived after the vote on the regulations change had taken place, Mayor Michael Wilson was not present for the meeting.  

The new ordinance lowers the annual licensing and registration fees from $300 to $75. The new ordinance also gives more protection to landlords by changing the law on property inspection regulations. Now, if a landlord denies property inspection, a summons will be issued to inspect the property, where under the old ordinance, enforcement officers were able to apply to the municipal court for a search warrant if denied entry to inspect the property.