‘Tenants don’t vote’

Several landlords have questioned a registration fee increase for rental homes, alleging they are being unfairly targeted in a move to raise municipal revenue.

One landlord also claimed there are political considerations in the fee hike, saying he was told: “Tenants don’t vote,” in a private conversation with a borough councilman. That was an apparent reference to the belief that renters are less inclined to vote in local elections than those who own homes.

The landlords attended the council’s Tuesday, Nov. 21 meeting to voice their concerns about the increase.

Borough officials defended the fee hike, saying it’s needed to pay for rental home inspections. Officials noted the Middlesex Fire Department has dealt with a number of rental unit fires during recent months as well as calls to answer smoke alarm activations.

Officials are hoping the inspections will lead to fewer calls at a time when the fire departments in Middlesex and other towns continue to deal with decreasing membership numbers.

They also asserted the fee increase – raising the amount to $150 from its previous $50 – is in line with what’s charged in other nearby towns. Landlords found to have violated the registration requirement are subject to a fine between $500 and $2,000 for a first offense, according to a borough ordinance.

The explanations, however, did not completely quell the landlords’ objections, which included one heated exchange. One concern was that the fee must be paid annually, but the related ordinance states the unit inspections will be done on a multi-year cycle.

In the end, the landlords did win one concession. Mayor John Madden and council members said those needing additional time to fill out the related paperwork and pay the fee would get it.

Letters sent out by the borough on Nov. 15, indicated the registration forms and payment were due by Dec. 15. The council enacted the fee increase in late April.

One landlord, Gene Hanania, questioned whether that timeline was fair, particularly due to the year-end holidays.

“How come this wasn’t sent out out with the new tax bill?” Hanania asked.

“To have to fill out all this paperwork and pay these fees, during the holiday season,” he said, “seems kind of unreasonable to me.”

Council President Michael Conahan said fire department calls “are at an all-time high.” Most are caused by outdated fire alarms or smoke alarms and the affected units often have no fire extinguisher, he said.

Hanania asked why the borough is not requiring similar inspections of single-family, owner-occupied homes.

“We’d have to hire 500 inspectors,” Conahan replied.

Councilman Jack Mikolajczyk implied that owner-occupied homes are less inclined to have fires.

“If I own a house, and I’m paying the mortgage on that house, I’ll make sure that house doesn’t burn down,” Mikolajczyk said.

“I’m not trying to be a wise guy,” Mikolajczyk added. “I’m trying to be realistic about it.”

Another landlord, Emil “Butch” Vogt, angrily questioned Conahan and mentioned a private conversation the two of them had previously about the fee increase. Vogt, a Piscataway resident, owns several rental properties in Middlesex.

Vogt questioned whether the fee increase is “discriminating against landlords” and why Airbnb arrangements are not charged. Airbnb is an online marketplace that connects people who want to rent out their property with others looking for accommodations, typically for short stays. 

Vogt claimed that during their private conversation, Conahan had said single- and two-family rental homes would not be hit with the increased fee until after January.

“We didn’t even hit January, and we’re getting notices,” Vogt said. “Let’s be honest and tell the truth.”

Vogt angrily told Conahan “Bound Brook is golden to you,” an apparent reference to that town already charging a $150 registration fee. Vogt also claimed Conahan had told him: “Tenants don’t vote.”

Conahan did not deny Vogt’s assertion regarding the tenants comment.

“Do you really think you’re going to incur this cost?” Conahan told Vogt. “You’re going to put it right on your tenants. You know you are.”

“It doesn’t matter whose pocket,” Vogt said. “You’re still going after the tenants.”

Conahan again answered, but Vogt responded, “Oh bullshit.”

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