Property Maintenance Ordinance Gets Update In Brick

BRICK, NJ — The Brick Township Council approved an amended ordinance on Tuesday that requires maintenance of properties that have been foreclosed on or are vacant.

The amendment changed the definition of properties covered under the ordinance, which originally was adopted in 2018, from "defaulted" mortgages to "foreclosure" mortgages.

The amendment is in response to changes in state laws that address the definitions of defaulted mortgages and foreclosures, Brick Township attorney Scott Kenneally said.

Under the ordinance, when a property is vacant or is undergoing foreclosure, the owner of the property — whether it is an individual or a bank that holds the mortgage — is required to register with the town and provide a contact person, to ensure the property is being maintained.

That includes making sure the grass is mowed, the building is secured and that the property isn't in disrepair.

"Often in a foreclosure, the person who is being foreclosed on stops maintaining the property," Kenneally said.

Lenders, too, were allowing properties to become an eyesore, he said.

The updated ordinance takes effect 20 days after publication. It can be read here; it is the last eight pages of Tuesday's council meeting agenda. The 2018 ordinance can be seen online here.