Inspectors: Illegal basement apt. found in Iselin Township will step up enforcement by hiring a sixth housing inspector BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer KATHY CHANG Woodbridge Township housing inspectors developed information that as many as 10 individuals were possibly residing in an alleged illegal basement apartment at the single-family residence at 68 LaGuardia Ave. in Iselin. WOODBRIDGE - Acting on a complaint by a resident, township housing inspectors discovered 10 beds and what appeared to be an illegal apartment in a single-family LaGuardia Avenue residence in Iselin last week. The Township Bureau of Housing received a complaint from a resident on Nov. 22 reporting a possible illegal apartment at 68 LaGuardia Ave. in Iselin. "This is one highlighted problem," Mayor John E. McCormac said. "We should expect other actions to take place periodically." Township housing inspectors conducted a full, internal inspection of the property and determined that an illegal apartment had been constructed in the basement. "We developed information that as many as 10 individuals were possibly residing in the illegal basement apartment," said Walter Hanks, chief housing inspector. Hanks sent the notice of violation to Mubbashir Ahmed, owner of the residence. Ahmed must respond to the Bureau of Housing within five days, provide a remediation plan to correct the alleged illegal condition, obtain any and all relevant permits, and bring the property into compliance with all township ordinances and housing regulations. If Ahmed fails to comply, the Bureau of Housing will issue a summons and refer the case to Municipal Court, and potential financial penalties of up to $2,500 per violation may be imposed. Ahmed will also be responsible for relocating his alleged illegal tenants. McCormac has hired an additional housing inspector, which makes the total number of housing inspectors in the township six. "I have instructed township housing inspectors to conduct an aggressive campaign to identify illegal housing and to respond to every complaint," he said. "As a result of our stepped-up campaign, inspectors have issued a violation notice to the owner of the Iselin residence, [which] allegedly contained an illegal basement apartment." McCormac said illegal housing complaints have been going on for a long time and it remains a significant issue throughout the township. The inspectors will give priority to complaints reporting illegal housing, overcrowding and unsafe conditions. "Illegal and overcrowded housing throughout the township presents a real danger to the public health and safety, and stands as one of my main quality-of-life issues," he said. The housing inspectors will have access to updated portable computers with direct access to municipal records, which is an effort to increase housing inspections. In conjunction with increasing enforcement actions targeting illegal housing, information regarding unrelated illegal activity or potential violations will be forwarded to appropriate federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement and regulatory agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the state Attorney General's Office and the Division of Taxation. Township residents are encouraged to report potential illegal housing and other housing-related activities to the Bureau of Housing at (732) 634-4500, ext. 6436. All complaints will be investigated and all information will remain confidential. "The phones have been buzzing," said McCormac. "The township is working on other complaints in conjunction with this one."