Jackson Township Mayor Jennifer L. Kuhn and the township council are proud to announce that they will soon begin hiring employees to establish the township’s new Bureau of Housing Rentals. At the first public council meeting in November, the township council unanimously approved new positions and salaries to begin hiring.
The job of the Bureau of Housing Rentals will focus on enforcing the township’s landlord and tenant ordinances and to ensure that both landlords and tenants are complying with local and state laws when it comes to single family and multifamily housing units.
“This has been more than a year of planning, listening to input from residents, our legal counsel and our code and inspection officers,” Mayor Kuhn said. “We are looking for experienced individuals who want to hit the ground running and want to be out there enforcing our laws and making sure our neighborhoods are safe, our laws are being followed and that our residents’ quality of life is not being disturbed.”
Mayor Kuhn said anyone intersted in applying for a position within the new bureau should check the township website’s jobs page and apply once those positions are listed.
The new bureau will be funded entirely by registration fees, inspection fees, and fines paid bylandlords.
“For years, we have recognized this problem and drafted ordinances to combat this growing problem, but when the administration wasn’t enforcing compliance, nothing was being done. As a council, we can draft ordinances all day long, but if the administration doesn’t want to enforce the ordinances, they are worthless,” said Council President Mordechai Burnstein. “It is refreshing to now have an administration who not only believes in strict enforcement, but a mayor who was with us in trenches on the council helping us create and enact these ordinances. I’m thrilled that Mayor Kuhn shares our energy and passion on this important issue that is impacting many neighborhoods in town.”
Council Vice President Giuseppe Palmeri said the new bureau is not only about enforcing laws, but it’s also about public safety to ensure every resident is living in a home that is safe, compliant, and up to code before a new family moves into a rental unit.
“Illegal multi-family rentals have become a serious issue across New Jersey, but here in Jackson, we’re taking proactive, responsible steps to protect our neighborhoods,” said Council Vice President Giuseppe Palmeri. “Establishing the new Bureau of Rental Housing and Inspection is a major step forward in strengthening enforcement, improving safety, and ensuring that every resident lives in a safe and compliant home.”
Rental units will be inspected annually under the new ordinance.
The council will soon begin the hiring of rental inspectors.
According to the township ordinance, “No person shall occupy any rental unit, nor shall the landlord or owner permit occupancy of any rental unit within the Township, which is not registered and each rental unit shall be inspected at least annually and upon each change in tenancy or occupancy.”
You can read the full ordinance here.
The ordinance also requires that the definition of a landlord is a “person or persons” who own or purport to own, or exercise control of, any building or project in which there is rented, or offered for rent, housing space for living or dwelling purposes under either a written or oral lease.
The new law takes effect on January 1, 2026.
