The Trenton Times published the following article on October 18, 2013. To read the full article, click here.
Trenton council approves ordinance to hike landlord fees
By Jenna Pizzi/The Times of Trenton
on October 18, 2013 at 10:34 PM, updated October 18, 2013 at 10:38 PMTRENTON — City Council voted last night to increase housing inspection fees despite objections voiced by a local landlord.
“It is another fee, on top of another fee, on top of another fee,” said Donald Brockade, who added that he has been working to improve the city with his properties, but increasing the fees only hits responsible landlords who are willing to pay, not the “slumlords” who find ways around the law.
“I follow all the rules,” said Brockade, who complained the city just keeps asking him to pay more for fees. “I am going to reach a certain point where I can’t do this anymore.”
A proposal to increase landlord licensing fees met the most opposition among council members, with three voting against the ordinance, but it still received enough votes to pass.
The ordinance will increase the annual fees to licence non-commercial structures from $75 to $90 per structure with a $25 cost for each unit in the building. The measure changes the fees for commercial buildings from $100 per building to $120 with a charge of $25 per unit.