Borough Passes Overcrowding Ordinance And Enforces Relocation Assistance Plan

Candace Braun

The Borough Council passed an ordinance on Wednesday, November 5, that they hope will discourage landlords from renting their properties to an illegally high number of tenants. The Council is also looking to enforce the relocation assistance plan, which will require landlords to bear the cost of relocating tenants.

The ordinance will allow officials to issue a summons for an immediate court hearing to landlords in violation of housing codes, which will take away the 30 days landlords had in the past to correct the problem. The Council is hoping this ordinance will help the Housing Authority take some landlords that they know are in violation of housing codes to court.

The current relocation assistance plan states that tenants on the lease exceeding the legal number in a housing unit will be temporary moved to another location at the Borough's expense. Mayor Marvin Reed previously announced the Council's intent to target one or two housing units known to be overcrowded, making them an example that will hopefully influence the renting habits of other landlords.

"The goal isn't to move everyone out of town, but to choose one or two housing units and use them as an example," he said.

Chrissie Knight, a member of the Latin-American Task Force, said she is fearful that passing the ordinance will lead to many people becoming homeless because of a lack of housing available in the area.

"It is disconcerting to think of all those who will lose housing if this ordinance is passed," she said.

Because of a limited number of affordable housing locations, Council members said that many of those who are relocated end up at low-cost motels along Route 1.

"If we have to relocate someone, we will have to move them out of Princeton," said Cynthia Mendez, director of the Princeton Department of Human Services.

According to Ms. Mendez, no one has been relocated in the past. However, she added, the Borough is only responsible for relocating legal tenants, and many in overcrowded units have most likely never signed any kind of paperwork.

"If they are living there with the landlord's knowledge, we should make the landlord pay to relocate them," said Councilman David Goldfarb.

Borough Attorney Michael Herbert argued that the landlord will deny knowledge of numerous individuals living in their rental property.

"There is no immediate assistance out there for low-income families," said Ms. Mendez. She said that welfare is only for unemployed individuals, and most, if not all who are living in overcrowded facilities have jobs.

The Council passed the ordinance unanimously, saying they will continue to look into affordable housing locations for these individuals.