Seaside Park Puts off Ordinance Tweaking Rental Inspection Rules

Seaside Park, N.J. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Seaside Park officials will take some more time to review a new form and policy with regard to rental properties in town.

The borough council, at a meeting last week, was poised to vote to introduce a new rental permit form which laid out updated policies property owners would have to follow when renting their homes. One of the policies listed on the proposed form was a requirement that homes be inspected every time a tenant changed, rather than the current policy of one annual inspection.

For obvious reasons, such a policy could prove chaotic during the summer season, some residents said.

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“You’re limited on time, because your check-outs are at 11 [a.m.] and your check-ins are at 2 [p.m.], and you have cleaners in and out during that time,” said Councilwoman Jean Contessa. 

The new form also could prompt complaints from property owners if they were forced to pay a re-inspection fee every time a tenant left, rather than the annual check. Officials said that was not the intent of the ordinance.

“The intent is not to charge another fee every time someone comes in or out,” said Councilman Frank “Fritz” McHugh. “It deserves clarification.”

Borough Attorney Steven Zabarsky said the language requiring re-inspections each time tenants change would likely be removed from the form language before it comes before the borough council again. Mayor Robert W. Matthies said the matter would be held until the next council meeting.