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Housing Inspection & Landlord Compliance Office
Our Vision
To help ensure Hamilton Township residents have access to quality living conditions through the enforcement of Township ordinances. Life safety is a number one priority for our residential change of occupancy inspections.
Our Mission
Perform investigation, identification and verification of unsafe, unseemly and unsightly conditions which, if left unchecked, could threaten public health and well-being. The purpose of this office is to ensure:
- All Township residents are in a safe and legal residence
- Properties are properly maintained
- Property owners, landlords, and tenants comply with all Township Housing Codes
- Protect the health, welfare and property of all Township residents
Prior to any change in occupancy of any house, dwelling, dwelling unit, or apartment unit which is used, partially used, or intended to be used for human occupancy, a certificate of approval shall first have been obtained from the office of Housing Inspections, stating that the building and premises comply with the requirements of the Township ordinances.
You may complete change of occupancy applications using our Change of Occupancy Application Portal or by filling out the documentation below and submitting it to the Office of Housing Inspections.
To help prepare for your change of occupancy inspection, you may refer to our Change of Occupancy Checklist (PDF).
Change of Occupancy Applications
Landlord and Rental Unit Registration
All Landlords are required to file for Landlord license and rental unit registration(s) for all residential dwelling units which are available for rent or lease are to be in compliance with Township and State ordinances. Landlords residing outside of Mercer County are required to have a local Managing Agent who resides in Mercer County. Managing Agents would need to be authorized to accept notices from a tenant, issue receipts for those notices and accept service of process on behalf of out of county record owners. Tenants cannot be a Managing Agent.
- Landlord Registration and License Application Form (PDF)
- Rental Unit Registration Application Form (PDF)
Certification of Insurance
Effective November 3, 2022, P.L. 2022, c.92, requires business owners and rental unit owners to maintain certain liability insurance policies and are to annually register the certificate of insurance (COI) with the municipality in which the business, rental units, or multi-family home is located. Business owners and rental unit owners are to submit COI’s to Hamilton Township via email.
Email your Certificate of Insurance
Lead Certification Requirement
All rental properties constructed prior to 1978* will be required by July 2025 to complete a Lead Certification inspection. This law requires property owners to certify their units as either Lead-Free or Lead-Safe. Lead Safe Certifications are valid for 3 years. Lead-Free Certifications do not expire. Rental change of occupancy applications for properties built before 1978 must include a lead certification. A change of occupancy application will not be accepted if a lead certification has not been completed and provided to the Housing Department. A current listing of approved lead inspectors can be found on The State of New Jersey’s Department of Community Affairs Lead Hazard Abatement website.
Exemptions
- The property has been certified to be free of lead-based paint
- The property was constructed after 1978
- The rental unit is in a multiple dwelling that has been registered with the DCA as a multiple dwelling for at least 10 years, and has no outstanding lead violations from the most recent cyclical inspection performed on the multiple dwelling under the “Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law”
- Is a single family or two-family seasonal rental dwelling which is rented for less than 6 months duration each year by tenants that do not have consecutive lease renewals.
- Has a valid lead safe certification issued by accordance with this section.
Any person, company, corporation or beneficiary, whose property becomes vacant or shows evidence of vacancy shall, within 90 days of the property becoming vacant, or within 30 days of assuming ownership of such, or within 10 days of receiving notice of declaration of vacancy. Register the property as vacant per ordinance 146.
Foreclosure Properties
Any real property located in the Township, whether vacant or occupied, that is subject to an ongoing foreclosure action by the mortgagee or trustee, must register with our Housing Division within 10 days of the date any mortgagee files a foreclosure action.
An online foreclosure application is required along with the fee of $500.00 if the property is occupied. An additional $2,000.00 is required if the property is vacant.
The mortgagee shall register the real property with the Township Registry, and, at the time of registration, indicate whether the property is vacant, and if so shall designate in writing a property manager to inspect, maintain and secure the real property subject to the mortgage in foreclosure when legally possible. A separate registration is required for each registrable property.
The Ordinance can be found here.