TRENTON, NJ — December 1, 2022 – As the cold weather hits, Trenton’s South Ward runoff Candidate Damian G. Malave wants to target absentee landlords to ensure they are supplying their tenants with heat and other critical services.

“ I’m constantly hearing complaints from residents that they’re paying high rents for poor living conditions,” Malave said. “A big problem in the South Ward and other parts of the city seems to be that absentee landlords are leasing apartments and are not held accountable by authorities.”

Trenton has an Absentee Owner Program that requires all residential or commercial property owners to pay a yearly licensing fee. In addition, the program states that periodic inspections are performed to check for existing housing code violations.

As Malave has walked the South Ward neighborhoods, many residents have shared horror stories about their terrible living conditions. Some have complained about lack of heat and hot and cold water. Others have experienced roof leaks and have expressed concerns about rodent and bug infestations, as well as pressing safety issues.

According to Malave, many the absentee landlords use post office boxes to avoid service of any legal process notices. And residents who have complained to the South Ward Council Candidate claim the city takes a long time to respond for help when they’re requested.

“I think we need to be more aggressive with these absentee landlords,” stressed Malave. “It’s not enough to charge them licensing fees or even fine them. We need to find a way to make sure things are up to code before tenants move in and that rentals remain habitable throughout their lease agreements.”

Buildings that are not up to code represent a public safety hazard, according to the South Ward runoff candidate. Malave said he believes tragic events, like electrical fires and roof and/or building collapses, could be avoided if the city became more proactive in dealing with absentee landlords.

As Malave sees it, there are not enough housing inspectors to deal with the number of violations throughout the city. A Trenton resident his entire life, Malave would like to see all Trentonians assured of a safe and healthy living environment.

Malave suggested City Council should increase budgetary resources and look for an allocation of funds from the American Rescue Plan to address these issues. Hiring more inspectors to deal with problematic properties should be viewed as a priority.

“People who don’t live at the properties they own don’t have the same incentive to keep them up to par,” said Malave. “That’s also why we need to develop more programs to promote home ownership programs and lease-to-own opportunities.”

South Ward Council Candidate Damian G. Malave is on the runoff ballot for December 13 in Column A. The runoff will represent the third time Malave has faced the same opponent. In the 2018 election, Malave defeated his rival to make it to a runoff against a long-standing incumbent. In the General Election this year, Malave was the highest vote-getter, despite his opponent going on the ballot with an unexplained name change.