Two Iselin Property Owners Fined For Running Rooming Houses

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Two Woodbridge property owners, both on Fiume Street in Iselin, have been fined for operating what Township officials say are illegal multi-family rooming houses in residential neighborhoods.

The first is a residential property located at 108 Fiume Street in Iselin. Someone anonymously reported the property to the housing code department. The property owner, identified as Amit Yadav, was renting four converted “rooms” in the house for $400, $500, $800 and $1,000 per month respectively, officials said.

When the Bureau of Housing Inspection inspected the property on Sept. 11 of last year, inspectors determined that at least six tenants were living there. The home was only zoned as a traditional single-family residential property.

Yadav was issued violation notices charging illegal multi-family dwelling, failure to register the property as a rental unit and non-permitted use of a residential property. He appeared in Woodbridge municipal court May 11, where he was found guilty of operating a non-permitted illegal multi-family residential property, and given a $4,000 fine. Yadav also had to kick the tenants out and 108 Fume Street will be undergoing a re-inspection.

The second case involved a home on the same street, a single-family residence at 113 Fiume Street. Owner Amit Kapoor was charged with running an illegal multi-family dwelling and maintaining an illegal basement apartment. Inspectors determined that at least two renters were occupying two converted bedroom areas in the basement of the single-family residence

On May 11, Kapoor was given a $1,250 fine and was ordered to correct the illegal conditions and submit to re-inspection.

Over the past year, Woodbridge has issued 3,474 Notices of Violation charging property-owners with various “Quality-of-Life” violations, including 50 violations for operating illegal boarding homes and/or multi-family dwellings; 60 violations for illegal basement apartments; and seven violations for overcrowded housing conditions, Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac said.

“The Municipal Council is working closely with Mayor McCormac and Township inspectors and will provide whatever resources necessary to continue to go after landlords who illegally convert properties for their own financial gain,” said Councilman Viru Patel (4th Ward – Iselin). “Non-conforming boarding homes and apartments pose a real danger to public health and safety and the midnight conversion of single-family properties into illegal boarding homes by absentee landlords will continue to be a priority for the Code Enforcement Task Force,” Councilman Patel added.

Township residents should report property and housing violations and other “Quality-of-Life” violations that negatively impact neighborhoods to the Bureau of Housing at 732-634-4500 x6009. All complaints will be investigated and all information will remain confidential.

Google Earth screenshot of Fiume Street in Iselin.