Housing and property
Empty homes could be cheaper for New Jersey towns
Senator John Burzichelli’s bill would let distressed municipalities subtract unpaid taxes and liens when they buy or condemn abandoned, vacant or tax-delinquent property.
The proposal is aimed at parcels that are already hurting nearby blocks. It would also spell out when a property counts as vacant or abandoned, and give owners a chance to challenge that finding.
- Targets abandoned, vacant or tax-delinquent property in distressed municipalities
- Changes how fair market value is determined and paid
- Lawmakers say the current process can cost more than the land is worth
- Could help towns clear blight and bring parcels back into use
- In New Jersey, an empty house or lot can drag down more than one block
In New Jersey, an empty house or lot can drag down more than one block. Vacant and abandoned properties can feed crime, create public-health problems, depress nearby values and leave municipalities with less revenue.
A bill from Sen. John Burzichelli would give distressed municipalities a cleaner path to those parcels by changing how fair market value is determined and paid when they try to acquire them.
The parcels at the center
The bill would apply only in distressed municipalities, which it defines by a municipal revitalization index distress score of 45 or higher from the Department of Community Affairs. It also lays out the signs that can make a property count as vacant or abandoned, including overgrown vegetation, disconnected utilities, boarded windows, junk and broken doors.
Not every off-market property gets swept in. A building under diligent renovation, a seasonal property that is otherwise secure, or a site tied up in probate or another ownership dispute would not automatically be treated the same way. The point is to target the places where neglect is already visible and costly.
A public purpose, with guardrails
Lawmakers already have tools to reach abandoned, vacant or tax-delinquent property through existing statutes, but the bill says the proof and title costs often outweigh the land’s value. It would supplement New Jersey’s condemnation framework rather than replace it, with the idea that clearing these parcels should be easier than leaving them to sit.
The measure also builds in notice and a chance to challenge the finding before a town can move ahead. If the owner cannot be found, the compensation would be held in trust for a year before being handled as unclaimed property. The broader aim is simple: make it easier to get dead land back into use, whether that means resale, rehabilitation or a return to the tax rolls.