Camden Cracks Down On Deadbeat Landlords
by KYW's David Madden
(CAMDEN, NJ) -- The city of Camden is teaming up with Camden County on the code enforcement front, targeting several thousand landlords who have not registered their units for regular inspections.
Call it a carrot and stick approach, as more than a dozen part timers are being hired Camden County to supplement city officers now on the street. Starting next month, crews will go by neighborhood by neighborhood, checking every home to ensure safety codes and occupancy limits are being obeyed. Camden Mayor Dana Redd says landlords will get a break, at first.
"We're not looking to penalize initially," Redd told KYW Newsradio, "but if they do come into compliance within a reasonable amount of time, then we will come back and enforce with penalties."
Camden has some 2 thousand registered landlords, with an estimated 4 thousand not signed up. Those who want to change that before a knock on the door can do that by calling 856-757-7075.
Officials stress they want to work with landlords, but those who don't comply could find themselves in front of a judge designated to handle such issues.