IMPORTANT UPDATE: Rental Property Inspection Checklist now available online
Please see the following link for more information:
Attention Landlords: rental property registration required by September 30th – October 30th! Fee remains only $79.
While many landlords have complied with the rental property registration requirement thus far, Mayor Scheffler is recommending the original deadline be extended to October 30th to allow more time for landlords to submit the forms, with reminder notices sent out the week of October 7th.
NOTE: For rental properties already registered, Rental Unit Inspections are underway and the process has been very smooth – thank you for your cooperation!
Registration Forms are available at Palmyra Borough Hall or by selecting the following:
Rental Unit Registration Form
Supplemental Form for Rental Unit Registration
Completed Registration Forms must be turned in to Borough Hall with $79 fee by September 30th, attention Barbara Sheipe, Borough Clerk.
Rental Unit inspections
On June 17, 2013, after impassioned requests made by Tracy Kilmer, the Borough’s Code Enforcement Officer, and Chief of Police Scott Pearlman, Palmyra’s governing body adopted Ordinance 2013-14 requiring the registration, inspection, and licensing of residential rental properties in the Borough.
Click for Tracy Kilmer’s statement to Borough Council
Crime, an increase in calls for Police service, dilapidated and distressed properties, inadequate living conditions, absentee and irresponsible landlords, overcrowding, and illegal conversions of once proud single-family homes into boarding houses and 2 or more unit apartment complexes were examples cited for the need to register and regularly inspect these properties. Add to that an increase in the number of abandoned properties throughout the Borough and it became very clear that our neighborhoods and residents are suffering.
“…when made to register, and no rental can proceed without this information, that is when you will see a difference. Then and only then will there be the ability to properly enforce codes and make accountable renters and their landlords.”
Tracy Kilmer, June 17, 2013
The Mayor and Borough Council agree with Ms. Kilmer and strongly believe that increasing the quality of life for our residents and protecting our once beautiful but aging housing stock should be a priority. An increase in overall property values will also result if owners of distressed properties, which every block in town seems to have, are required to clean up their act.
After meeting with representatives from the Burlington Camden County Association of REALTORS® (BCCAR) however, and listening to concerns offered by a number of landlords, Borough Council adopted Ordinance 2013-23, which amended the original Ordinance and streamlined the registration and inspection process. BCCAR subsequently thanked Borough Council and supported the revisions.
Click for BCCAR’s letter of support
Unfortunately however, several out-of-town landlords have filed separate lawsuits against the Borough.
Palmyra rental property owners Maryann Shea of Riverton, Joe Rainer of Cinnaminson, and Roger Boyell of Moorestown, filed suit in August. Their lawsuits however, will have no immediate impact on the implementation of the rental property registration and inspection process, as the Borough is committed to defending the right to implement these public health and safety measures.
On Monday, September 16th, Borough Council awarded Community, Grants, Planning & Housing, Inc. (CGP&H) a contract to perform the rental unit inspections. CGP&H has ten years’ experience working in the Borough, having performed all of the inspections for our very successful Housing Rehabilitation Program. CGP&H has experienced, certified Housing Inspectors and they’re affordable; they’ve agreed to perform the inspections for $75, which includes one free re-inspection if necessary. The Borough is only charging an additional $4 for related administrative costs. THIS IS NOT A REVENUE RAISING PROGRAM! Tracy Kilmer, who was also appointed Housing Official on September 16th agreed to take on those new responsibilities with no increase in salary! As Housing Official Tracy is responsible to supervise CGP&H’s Housing Inspectors.
Click for CGP&H’s Proposed Contract
Click for Resolution 2013-208 awarding temporary contract to CGP&H
Click for Resolution 2013-214, setting the inspection fee at $79.00
Click for Resolution 2013-207 appointing Housing Official
Inspection Criteria
The Inspection Criteria, or the items to be inspected for satisfactory compliance by the Housing Inspectors, are long-standing codes and regulations previously adopted by the Borough – some as long as several decades ago. No new codes, regulations or requirements were adopted! These codes and regulations are basic quality of life issues and only require a minimum level of compliance with an emphasis on the protection of public health, safety and welfare. The criteria inspected will be substantially comprised of elements from the 1980 version of the New Jersey State Housing Code and the 1996 version of the BOCA National Property Maintenance Code.
To learn more about these codes click on the following link, which can be found on our homepage.
Certificate of Occupancy Inspections
On Thursday, September 12th Mayor Karen Scheffler met with noted local REALTOR® and PHCA Board member Joan Byrem, along with several other local Real Estate agents and other professionals. As a result of this meeting Mayor Scheffler requested that CO inspections be postponed until recommendations proposed by Ms. Byrem can be adopted. This ordinance is on indefinite hold.
Rental Property Forms
Please note that the registration fee is $79, which is due by September 30th.
Supplemental Form for Rental Unit Registration
NJ DCA Landlord Identity Registration Statement & 1 and 2-unit Dwelling Registration Form
“At the end of the day we can argue this ordinance forever, but the one thing that is certain is we all have culpability. Landlords, tenants, the Borough, we ALL do. We are all witness to the cost of doing nothing. I would kindly ask the members of Council to ask yourselves a more pertinent question than “should I vote for this ordinance?”; please ask yourself “can Council any longer afford not to?”
Tracy Kilmer, June 17, 2013
Vacant Properties
The Borough is also attempting to battle the blight brought on by vacant and abandoned homes. Most of these properties are bank-owned and have fallen into substantial disrepair. An increase in Police calls for service, squatters, and thefts have forced the Borough to act. These property owners are now required to register their homes and pay a hefty fee, which Borough Council hopes will incentivize the banks to sell these properties to responsible homeowners or fix-up them up.
Click for Ordinance 2013-20 regulating vacant and abandoned properties
Click for Vacant Property Registration Form
This information can always be accessed in the future via the link below, which can be found on our homepage.
