[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City of Perth Amboy 5-3-1994 as Ord. No. 717-94. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The following words or phrases when used in this chapter shall
have the following meanings:
An individual or individuals designated by the owner as the
person(s) authorized by the owner to perform any duty imposed upon
the owner by this chapter. The term does not necessarily mean a licensed
real estate broker or salesmen of the State of New Jersey as those
terms are defined by N.J.S.A. 45:15-3; however, such term may include
a licensed real estate broker or salesmen of the State of New Jersey
as such a person designated by the owner as his agent if so licensed.
Any apartment, cottage, bungalow or other dwelling unit consisting
of one (1) or more rooms occupying all or part of a floor or floors
in a building of one (1) or more floors or stories, but not the entire
building, whether designed with or without housekeeping facilities
for dwelling purposes and notwithstanding whether the apartment is
designed for residents, office or the operation of any industry or
business or any other type of independent use.
Any building or structure or part thereof used for human
habitation, use or occupancy and includes any accessory buildings
and appurtenances belonging thereto or usually enjoyed therewith.
Any building or structure or part thereof used for business
or trade and includes any accessory buildings and appurtenances belonging
thereto or usually enjoyed therewith.
The person who owns, purports to own or exercises control
over any building.
An individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association,
trust or other legal entity, or any combination thereof.
Any room or rooms, suite or a part thereof, whether furnished
or unfurnished, which is occupied or intended, arranged or designed
to be occupied for sleeping or dwelling purposes by one (1) or more
persons, including but not limited to the owner thereof or any other
servants, agents or employees, and shall include all privileges, services,
furnishings, furniture, equipment, facilities and improvements connected
with the use or occupancy thereof. This definition applies only to
those dwelling units, including single-family residences, which are
available for lease or rental purposes.
All residential rental units and all commercial units, hereinafter
referred to collectively as "units," shall hereafter be registered
with the Director of Environmental Control or the Director's
designee on forms which shall be provided for that purpose, and which
shall be obtained from the Department of Environmental Control. The
initial registration shall occur on or before September 1, 1994.
A.Â
Each unit shall be inspected at least once a year.
C.Â
In the event that the owner of any unit fails to register the same
by the prescribed dates, or in the event that an owner fails to correct
all violations of the Property Maintenance Code of the City of Perth
Amboy within the time prescribed by the appropriate officials, the
owner shall be deemed in violation of this chapter, and every day
that the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
This provision shall not preclude any legal action taken by the City
of Perth Amboy for violation of any other applicable ordinance.
Upon the filing of a completed registration form and successful
completion of the necessary inspections, the owner shall be entitled
to the issuance of a certificate of habitability. The initial certificate
of habitability shall be valid for a period of one (1) year from the
date of issue. A registration form shall be required for each unit,
but a certificate of habitability shall issue to the owner for each
property containing units, and said certificate of habitability shall
specify the number and type of units contained therein. For the purpose
of this chapter, each condominium unit shall be treated as a separate
and distinct rental unit.
Every owner, either personally or through the owner's designee,
shall file with the Director of Environmental Control or the Director's
designee a registration form for each unit which shall include the
following information:
A.Â
The name and address of the record owner(s) of the premises and the
record owner(s) of the business, if not the same person(s). In the
case of a partnership, the names and addresses of all general partners
shall be provided, together with the telephone numbers for each of
such individuals indicating where such individuals may be reached
both during the day and evening hours.
B.Â
If the record owner is a corporation, the name and address of the
registered agent and the name and address of the person to be contacted
for any reason regarding the rental unit, if other than the registered
agent.
C.Â
If the address of any record owner is not located in the City of
Perth Amboy, the name and address of a person who resides in the City
of Perth Amboy and who is authorized to accept notices from a tenant
and to issue acknowledgment of receipt therefor and to accept service
of process on behalf of the record owner.
D.Â
The name and address of the manager or agent of the premises, if
any.
E.Â
The name and address, including dwelling unit, apartment or room
number, of the superintendent, janitor, custodian or other individual
employed by the record owner or manager or agent who provides regular
maintenance service, if any.
F.Â
The name, address and telephone number of an individual representative
of the record owner or manager or agent located in the City of Perth
Amboy who may be reached or contacted at any time in the event of
an emergency affecting the premises or any unit or dwelling space
therein, including such emergencies as the failure of any essential
service or system, and who has the authority to make emergency decisions
concerning the building and any repair thereof or expenditure in connection
therewith.
G.Â
The name and address of every holder of a recorded mortgage on the
premises.
H.Â
If fuel oil is used to heat the building and the landlord furnishes
the heat in the building, the name and address of the fuel oil dealer
servicing the building and the grade of fuel oil used.
The Director of Environmental Control or the Director's
designee shall index and file the registration forms and make the
forms reasonably available for public inspection. In doing so, the
Director of Environmental Control or the Director's designee
shall follow the mandate of N.J.S.A. 46:8-28.1, as amended and supplemented,
so that the filing with the City Clerk of the rental registration
form will simultaneously satisfy the registration requirements of
N.J.S.A. 46:8-28 to the extent that it applies to the property being
registered and will also satisfy the rental registration requirements
of this chapter. The Director of Environmental Control or the Director's
designee shall maintain a master index of all such rental registration
forms, and any person may obtain from the Director of Environmental
Control or the Director's designee a list of all rental units,
properly registered.
Every person required to file a registration form pursuant to
this chapter shall file an amended registration form within twenty
(20) days after any change in the information required to be included
thereon.
Every owner shall provide each occupant or tenant occupying
a unit with a copy of the registration form required by this chapter.
This provision shall not apply to any hotel, motel or guest house
registered with the State of New Jersey pursuant to the Hotel/Motel
Multiple Dwelling Act as defined in N.J.S.A. 55:13A-3.
Any and all persons who shall violate any of the provisions
of this chapter or who fail to comply with any order made hereunder
and who shall interfere with or hinder the public officer or any other
duly appointed officer, agent or employee in the execution and fulfillment
of his duties under this chapter shall, upon conviction, be punished
by a fine of not less that twenty-five dollars ($25) and not more
than two hundred fifty dollars ($250), and each violation of any of
the provisions of this chapter and each day there is a violation thereof
shall be deemed and taken to be a separate and distinct offense.
