North Jersey City Is Cracking Down On Illegal Basement Apartments

EAST ORANGE, NJ — East Orange is cracking down on landlords who profit from illegally renting out their basements, officials announced Tuesday.

Citing safety risks, officials are launching a new enforcement campaign dubbed “Save Ourselves” (SOS). A wave of inspections are being planned across the city, with plans to beef up enforcement against repeat offenders.

According to a statement from the mayor’s office, the crackdown comes in response to the growing prevalence of illegal basement apartments in the city – and recent regional tragedies involving fires and flooding.

Inspectors shut down more than two dozen illegal basement units in East Orange last year, said Hassan Mateen, the city’s director of code enforcement.

East Orange Fire Chief André Williams said illegal basement and attic apartments are typically converted into housing without proper permits, inspections or adherence to building and fire codes – posing significant risks not just to residents, but also to local firefighters.

One of the biggest hazards? A lack of a way to escape a fire, Williams said.

“Illegal units often lack sufficient and safe exits,” Williams explained. “Basements may have windows that are too small or too high for escape, and attics might have only one narrow staircase, if any.”

“An illegal apartment could essentially become a death trap that jeopardizes the lives of occupants and presents unpredictable and highly-dangerous conditions for the firefighters who respond to emergencies within them,” he added.

Mayor Ted Green said the crackdown is a “proactive response” to an emerging public safety threat.

“Cracking down on illegal basements is not just about enforcement – it’s about protecting lives and ensuring that every family has access to safe, secure and dignified housing,” Green said.

“No resident of East Orange should ever have to choose between affordability and safety,” the mayor said.

Residents can report unsafe conditions to the Department of Code Enforcement at 973-266-5320.

A LEGAL PATHWAY: ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS

The city is also giving some homeowners a legal way to make some extra income – or save a few bucks – by creating accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

An ADU is a residential living unit with complete independent facilities, including a kitchen and bathroom. They are frequently built on the same lot as a one- or two-family home, including converted garages or an attachment to the house.

East Orange city code currently permits some property owners to add one accessory dwelling unit in an accessory building, limited in size to not more than 25 percent of the principal building, excluding the cellar.

Qualifying property owners can legalize existing illegal apartment units without penalty, as long as they they commit to a “structured, monitored path to full compliance” with city codes and zoning regulations, officials said.

Required safety improvements include:

• Proper exits in case of fire
• Adequate ventilation
• Safe electrical systems
• Protection from flooding

“The city remains committed to working with responsible property owners – however, public safety will not be compromised,” said SOS project lead, Eladio Negron, who coordinated the development of the city’s plan.

Housing remains one of the most urgent issues that Garden State residents are struggling with, especially in North Jersey, where nine renters are competing for each available apartment, according to a recent study.

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• Related: NJ City OKs Rent Control Law After Years Of Activism From Tenants
• Related: Here’s Why Rent Is ‘So Damned High’ In New Jersey, Rutgers Experts Say

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