Tenant Rights Board Discusses Rent Control Ordinance Amendment as it Adjourns for Summer

The Eatontown Tenant Rights Committee is hoping to get the word out to fellow renters that there is movement afoot to modify the 2007 Rent Control Ordinance to benefit landlords.

A few weeks ago, which would allow landlords increases that they say are needed to help absorb taxes and utility costs and free up money to pour into capital improvement projects.

Because there was not a quorum to allow members to vote on the matter, the issue will be discussed again at the committee's next meeting on Sept. 21.

The Tenant Rights Committee works with tenants from Eatontown’s apartment complexes and mobile home parks to assure that they are being fairly represented.

“We have to protect our residents," Eatontown Councilman Meir Araman, who is liaison to the committee, said during the meeting.

And to do just that, the Tenant Rights Committee poured over the proposed amendment to the ordinance to make sure every word was amenable to the group.

One of the main proposals discussed at the meeting was the percentage in which rents could increase yearly. The ordinance allows for rent to be increased based on the consumer price index (CPI), which is essentially a measure of inflation.  Currently, the ordinance states that this percentage may be calculated to the second decimal place.

Landlords are requesting that this be expanded to include the fourth decimal place.  For example, if the CPI read an increase of .0298 (2.98%), under current standards, rent would increase only 2%, but under the amendment it would increase 2.98%.  This means that the landlords could increase rent nearly a percentage more than the ordinance allows.

“They’re asking for a hell of a lot,” Dana Spencer, who's on the committee, said during the meeting.

While the committee made an unofficial decision to deny the request, staying at the current two decimal place rule, there were other issues to be discussed.

Landlords are also seeking to have water and sewer bills passed through to tenants. 

But committee member Gail Conway argued that rent increases cover these costs.

According to committee member and borough housing officer, Nicholas Cosentino, the landlords are trying to make up lost income from by further charging current tenants.  The closing of the fort has accounted for many open trailers, apartments and homes in the Eatontown area.  In fact, the majority of the borough’s housing sales in the past year have been a direct result of the closure, said Cosentino.  

However, with a 20 to 30 percent turnover rate each year, landlords have the opportunity to guarantee the lost income by raising rents for new tenants.

Although an official decision has not been made, Araman claims, “we need to give (landlords) something to show we’re listening.”

If an amendment to the ordinance is approved, it could mean big changes for Eatontown’s tenants.

“That’s why we need to get the word out,” Spencer said. 

The next Tenant Rights Committee meeting will be Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Council Caucus Room of Borough Hall at 47 Broad St.