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AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING TITLE 18, HOUSING CODE, CHAPTER 17, OF THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, 2000, AS AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTED, TO ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATES OF HABITABILITY AND STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT THROUGH REVOCATION.
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WHEREAS, the City of Newark requires rental units to be registered and inspected to ensure compliance with applicable housing, health, and safety standards; and
WHEREAS, the issuance of a Certificate of Habitability confirms that a rental unit is fit for occupancy and complies with State and local laws; and
WHEREAS, the City has a responsibility to ensure that rental properties are maintained in a safe and habitable condition not only at the time of occupancy, but throughout the duration of tenancy; and
WHEREAS, the City has identified the need to strengthen accountability by ensuring that it is dealing directly with property owners and not solely with agents or management companies; and
WHEREAS, the City further finds that additional verification measures are necessary where there is a demonstrated pattern of non-compliance based on documented violations; and
WHEREAS, the City intends to establish clear and consistent standards for ownership disclosure, compliance certification, and enforcement to protect residents and promote uniform application of the law.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
Note: Additions are shown in Bold and Underlined. Deletions are shown in Strikeouts.
Section 1.
18:17-12, Certificate of Habitability, is hereby amended to add a new subsection as follows:
18:17-12(b) - Additional Requirements for Issuance
As a condition of issuance of a Certificate of Habitability, the property owner shall disclose the identity of all individuals or entities with a direct or indirect ownership interest of ten percent (10%) or more in the property, ...
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