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TRENTON
– Division on Civil Rights Director
Chinh Q. Le announced today that a record
88 percent of multiple-dwelling rental property
owners required to do so have submitted,
on-time, annual reports containing demographic
data about their housing applicants and
leaseholders.
However, Le also noted that many others
among some 3,500 multiple-dwelling owners
required to submit the on-line reports missed
the January 31 deadline, and have still
not complied.
Le reminded owners that the on-line reports
are mandatory under New Jersey’s Multiple
Dwelling Reporting Rule (MDRR). He said
owners who have not yet submitted their
annual reports face increased filing fees,
as well as possible Division-imposed financial
penalties, if they continue to delay or
fail to file.
“We
are delighted that the rate of timely compliance
with our multiple dwelling reporting rule
continues to improve each year,” said
Le, noting that last year’s rate of
timely compliance was 86 percent. “These
on-line MDRR reports help us ensure that
landlords are opening their apartment buildings
to all eligible persons. They also allow
us to identify and investigate potential
patterns of discrimination. We urge any
property owners who have not yet met their
MDRR reporting obligation to do so as soon
as possible.”
The MDRR reports are due by or before January
31 of each year. Demographic information
contained in the reports must encompass
the prior calendar year. In addition to
providing data on the racial and ethnic
make-up of their rental populations and
pools of housing applicants, landlords must
also furnish information concerning the
degree of access they provide to persons
with disabilities.
According to Le, compliance by property
owners with the January 31 filing deadline
has increased steadily each year since 2003,
when the Division -- as a means of addressing
a 30 percent rate of timely compliance ---
stepped up its enforcement efforts.
In 2008, the Division began requiring that
property owners file the MDRR reports on-line,
which is also believed to have helped increase
timely compliance. Previously, property
owners had the option of filing either on-line,
by mail or by fax.
Today, property owners must complete their
annual MDRR reports using the WebMDRR filing
application available on the Division's
Web site at www.NJCivilRights.gov.
Le noted that the ease and efficiency of
on-line filing provides considerable cost
savings to both property owners and the
Division. He said the Division believes
that increased familiarity with the system
probably contributed to this year's record
compliance. The Division plans on further
enhancing its on-line filing services by
enabling property owners to report changes
in status, such as address and ownership,
via the Web.
Multiple-dwelling property owners who do
not file their MDRR reports on time are
subject to increasing late filing fees of
$100, $250, or $500 if their reports are
not filed by February 15, March 1, or March
31, respectively.
Property owners who have not filed by April
30 may be served an Order to Show Cause
for their failure to file, and are subject
to a penalty in an amount designated by
the Director.
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