During the term of this chapter, the landlord shall maintain the same
standards of service, maintenance, furniture, furnishings and equipment in
the housing space and rental dwelling unit as he provided or was required
to do by law or lease at the date the lease was entered into. When services,
care or maintenance or the standards of service, maintenance, furniture, furnishings
and equipment in the housing space or dwelling are not substantially maintained
as specified above, any tenant may apply to the Rent Leveling Board for a
decrease in rent. A copy of the application shall be served on the landlord
and all other tenants.
A landlord seeking a rent increase under this chapter must include a
certification that the dwelling and housing space are in substantial compliance
with the applicable codes. "Substantial compliance" means that the housing
space and dwelling are free from all heat, hot-water and elevator violations,
as well as all health, safety and fire hazards, and substantially free from
all other violations of the Palisades Park Maintenance Code[1] and the standards set by the Department of Community Affairs.
A landlord may seek a reduction in the standards of service rendered
to the tenants, provided that the tenants receive a proportionate decrease
in rental for the loss. The landlord shall notify each tenant, at least 25
days prior to the hearing, of the total cost of the services to be reduced,
the average annual cost of the services to be reduced, the total number of
rooms occupied by the tenant and the amount of the reduction in rent which
is proposed, per tenant. The tenant shall receive a reduction in rent in proportion
to the total annual reduction in service. Any landlord seeking a reduction
in services must apply for such reduction to the Rent Leveling Board. If any
such reduction in rent is granted, the reduction shall decrease the base rent
of each unit. In no event shall the Board grant any reduction in service with
regard to building or health codes that would violate any laws of the State
of New Jersey. Commencing with the first of the month succeeding the hearing,
each tenant affected shall receive the proportionate reduction in the base
rent as provided by the Rent Leveling Board.
