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Residents press council on rent increases, foreclosures and landlord enforcement
Summary
During public comment Trenton residents urged stronger enforcement of rent-stabilization rules, raised concerns that landlords are collecting rent without certificates of occupancy and reported rising rents and foreclosure rates. Councilmembers pledged to increase outreach and enforcement and to route complaints to the rent-stabilization office.
A lengthy public-comment period at the March 3 Trenton City Council meeting focused heavily on housing, rent increases, landlord behavior and eviction-related hardship.
Speakers included residents and community advocates who said some landlords are charging substantially higher rents for modest units, collecting rent without certificates of occupancy or required inspections, and otherwise circumventing city requirements to the detriment of long-standing tenants. One resident said units in West Trenton are being advertised at $3,200 monthly and that low-wage workers cannot afford those rents. Another caller encouraged the council to ensure the administration mails rent-stabilization notices directly to registered landlords and to publicize tenants’ rights more broadly.
Council members responded by emphasizing that the rent-stabilization office must improve direct outreach and that the city will use enforcement and inspection tools where landlords violate ordinances. Council members also invited residents to share addresses and documentation with the city so staff can investigate specific complaints and asked housing staff to re-open application and purchase processes where appropriate.
What happens next: Council directed staff to mail notices to registered rental properties, provide clearer contact points for tenants, and to bring affected addresses to the rent-stabilization board or relevant enforcement divisions for investigation.
Sources: Public speakers and council responses, Trenton City Council meeting March 3, 2026.
