Township finds more potential illegal housing
Month-long crackdown on illegal housing elicits first wave of notices
BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

More than 50 letters were sent to Woodbridge residential dwellings and business properties throughout the township last week, which were found by the township Housing Bureau to be potentially in violation of township housing ordinances.

“Several weeks ago, I announced that housing inspectors are working to identify potentially illegal and overcrowded housing throughout the township,” said Mayor John E. McCormac.

“As a result of the stepped-up inspections and review of zoning and tax records, the Housing Bureau has identified more than 50 residential dwellings throughout the township that may be in violation of township ordinances,” he said. “Clearly, overcrowded housing and illegal apartments pose a real danger to the public health and safety and impacts the quality of life for residents in all communities.”

The letters sent out on Dec. 18, which advise the property owner that the Tenant Protection Housing & Overcrowding Elimination Ordinance requires the registration and inspection of single- and multiple-family dwellings or rental units, were sent to property owners in Woodbridge, Port Reading, Fords, Iselin, Avenel, Keasbey, Colonia and Hopelawn. The ordinance requires that property owners register rental or multiuse unit[s] each January.

The Housing Bureau inspectors uncovered residential properties with multiple entrances and construction consistent with multiple uses and located residential properties that were potentially being used as business or commercial establishments.

“The property owner could be charged if the property owner fails to comply with registration requirements or their property is found to be an unregistered rental unit or illegal business operation in a residential area,” said McCormac. “The charges include maintaining an illegal apartment, multifamily dwelling, and a boarding or rooming house, as well as failure to obtain required permits, certificates of occupancy, and violations of general property maintenance.”

A Notice of Violation requires the property owner to 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. Potential financial penalties of up to $2,500 per violation could be assessed. The township ordinance requires the property owner to provide for the costs and expenses necessary to relocate any tenants that are illegally housed in the property.

In November, township housing inspectors, acting on a complaint by a resident, discovered 10 beds and what appeared to be an illegal apartment in a single-family LaGuardia Avenue residence in Iselin owned by Mubbashir Ahmed.

McCormac also hired an additional housing inspector in November and provided updated portable computers with direct access to municipal records to housing inspectors and staggered hours of inspection.

Township residents are encouraged to report potential illegal housing and other housing-related activities to the Bureau of Housing at (732) 634-4500 Ext. 6009. All complaints will be investigated and all information will remain confidential.