Trenton – Legislation sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore M. Teresa Ruiz and Senator Brian P. Stack, which would create a more flexible building inspection schedule, cleared the Senate today.
The bill, S-1150, would authorize the DCA to establish a tiered inspection schedule for inspections of hotels and multiple dwellings. These inspection schedules would be increased or decreased based on the conditions of the units.
“There have been many cases of dwellings being poorly maintained, creating unsafe living conditions for our tenant population and stifling our cities. It is important that we hold these habitual offenders accountable,” said Senator Ruiz (D-Essex). “Modifying the inspection system to focus on landlords with a chronic history of violations, will align the state’s resources and ensure issues get resolved in a timely manner.”
Hotels and multiple dwellings consistently found to be in bad repair could be put on a once every two year inspection cycle and those in good repair could have inspections changed to once every seven years.
“There are far too many apartment buildings in dismal shape, forcing tenants to live in unsanitary and unsafe conditions,” said Senator Stack (D-Hudson). “We have housing standards in place for a reason, this will allow us to better enforce them, resulting in better conditions for everyone.”
The bill was released from the Senate by a vote of 39-0.