Woodbridge Homeowner Ran Rooming House, Twp. Says

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — The owner of this single-family home in Iselin has been fined $5,000 for running what the town says is essentially an illegal rooming house, with as many as ten different renters living inside at a time.

The Woodbridge Bureau of Housing & Inspection responded to a complaint about the property at 161 Sonora Avenue in Iselin. The town says the owner, Abha Desai, was renting converted rooms to tenants for $1,200 to $1,600 per month.

When housing officers went to inspect the property on July 31 of this year, they determined that at least ten different renters were occupying converted rooms in the basement, main living area and second floor of the residence.

The home is zoned as single-family residential, but the landlord was renting out single rooms inside, Woodbridge Twp. says.

Desai was issued multiple fines for maintaining an illegal multi-family dwelling, illegal basement apartment, failure to register the property as a rental unit and non-permitted use of a residential property.

Desai appeared in Woodbridge Township Municipal Court on Sept. 14 and pleaded guilty to maintaining an illegal basement apartment. He has to pay the fine, correct the illegal conditions and submit to re-inspection.

Between last May and May of 2018, Woodbridge issued an incredible 3,474 notices to landlords for "quality of life" violations, including operating illegal boarding homes and/or multi-family dwellings, illegal basement apartments and overcrowded housing conditions.

“Illegal and overcrowded housing are the most significant issues that impact quality of life in Woodbridge,” said Mayor John E. McCormac. "We will continue to target illegal housing, issue violation notices, and seek maximum penalties against property owners and landlords who violate Township ordinances.”

Another problem in Woodbridge is residential properties being used for commercial purposes, he said.

Township residents are encouraged to 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.

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