[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Suffern 1-10-1983 by resolution. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A Landlord-Tenant Review Board is hereby established. It shall
consist of five members who shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed
by the Board of Trustees. The term of each member shall be for five
years or until his successor is appointed and qualifies. The terms
of the members shall be staggered so that the term of one member expires
each year. Upon initial appointment, the Mayor shall designate the
initial term of each member so that staggered five-year terms may
exist subsequently. Subsequent appointments shall be for a full term.
The Mayor shall appoint a Chairman, who shall be confirmed by the
Board of Trustees. The members shall be a tenant, a homeowner, a condominium
or cooperative owner and a businessman. The members shall serve without
compensation.
The Review Board shall hear complaints relative to increases
in rental charges in multiple dwellings, which shall be defined for
the purposes of this chapter as a dwelling which is either rented,
leased or let to be occupied or is occupied as the residence or home
of three or more families living independently of each other. The
Review Board shall attempt to resolve amicably disputes between landlords
and tenants regarding the amount or frequency of rental increases.
The Review Board shall request that the owner or representative
of any multiple dwelling concerning which a complaint has been filed
by a tenant appear before the Review Board. The Review Board may assist
in obtaining agreement between the parties and may recommend a fair
rental. In determining a fair rental, the Review Board may consider:
A.
Rentals for similar accommodations within the same multiple residence
or complex of housing.
B.
Rentals for similar accommodations in the same area or in other similar
areas of the municipality.
C.
The physical condition of the premises and the nature and extent
of the services actually provided by the landlord.
D.
The cost of providing the rental service, as presented by the landlord.
E.
Recent changes in cost, including changes in applicable tax rates,
as presented by the landlord.
F.
Recent deletions or additions in the services provided.
