With no sign of an end to the COVID-19 pandem🍷ic in sight, paying rent has been difficult for many residents who are currently out of work or facing income loss. In some Hudson County municipalities, a freeze was ✃put on rent increases to help residents deal with the issue.
In North Bergen, the Board of Commissioners and Mayor Nicholas Sacco are looking to extend the current rent increase moratorium. The board recently introduced an ♑ordinance that would extend the rent incre🐼ase moratorium until November.
In May, the commissioners adopted the current ordinance enacting a 🉐moratorium, or freeze, on rent increases 🐭during the pandemic.
Efforts to protect renters
The ordinance prevents landlords from increasing rent on rent-controlled properties, including charges f𝕴or parking, pets, or any other fees associated with dwelling units.
The rent freeze came after a resolution was signed during the April 22 commissioners meeting, urging all township landlords to re🐬frain from raising rents and other😼 fees.
“This pandemic has affected all of us in different ways,”✨ Sacco said. “Enacting🤪 this rent freeze protects local renters during an incredibly difficult time. We will continue to do everything in our power to ease the burden on our residents, particularly the most vulnerable. Working together is the only way we can overcome this pandemic.”
Under the new ordinance, the North Bergen rent fr꧙eeze would remain in eff𝔉ect until November 1.
Meanwhile, Gov. Phil Murphy issued an executive order in March placing a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures that would prevent tenants from being🦩 removed from t꧒heir homes. The eviction moratorium will last until two months after Murphy declares an end to the COVID-19 health crisis.
Eviction court proceedings have 🌄been halted by the New Jersey Supreme Court due to COVID-19.
The ordinance extending the rent freeze will most likely be adopted at the next commissioners meeting on August 12 at 11 a.m. 𓆏at the Municipal Building at 4233 Kennedy Blvd.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.iccwins98.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].
