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Council considers new counsel and property-management software as borough weighs rent resets for municipal homes
Summary
Councilors discussed hiring special counsel for landlord-tenant matters, adopting Yardi Breeze property-management software, and raising rents on vacant borough-owned homes to market-aligned levels as part of a broader effort to fix maintenance, collection and vacancy problems in the Bar Homes program.
Councilors reviewed several operational reforms for the borough’s rental-home program (referred to in the transcript as Bar Homes). Christine and staff recommended separating landlord-tenant legal work from the municipal solicitor by hiring a specialized law firm experienced in landlord-tenant and redevelopment matters, arguing the firm’s experience could reduce delays and losses in eviction and collection cases.
Staff also proposed adopting Yardi Breeze — a cloud-based property-management platform — to centralize maintenance requests, tenant screening, rent collection and reporting. Staff estimated the software cost at roughly $1,200 per year and argued the tool would reduce missed maintenance, improve tenant screening and automate follow-up tasks.
Council discussed a proposed rent schedule for vacant units to reduce persistent operating deficits: proposed rates mentioned in the transcript were $1,600 for two-bedroom homes, $1,850 for three-bedroom homes and $1,900 for a four-bedroom home; current tenants would be grandfathered while vacancies would be re-rented at the new rates. Councilors discussed pro-rating and administrative cycles so all units eventually move to a common renewal month.
Council also discussed pursuing County Improvement Authority (CCIA) grant funds and an Affordable Housing Trust Fund to rehab borough-owned units and meet fair-share affordable-housing obligations. Staff agreed to pursue the RFP in February for available funds and coordinate architectural and bidding work.
Next steps: council to consider a resolution or professional-services agreement to retain special counsel, staff to proceed with purchasing property-management software and to draft a resolution for rent adjustments to appear on a future agenda.
