6. a. If an entity other than the municipality has purchased or taken assignment from the municipality of a tax sale certificate on a property that has not been legally occupied for a period of six months, that property shall not be placed on the abandoned property list pursuant to section 36 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C. 55:19-55) if (1) the owner of the certificate has continued to pay all municipal taxes and liens on the property in the tax year when due; and (2) the owner of the certificate takes action to initiate foreclosure proceedings within six months after the property is eligible for foreclosure pursuant to either subsection a. or subsection b. of R.S.54:5-86, as appropriate, and diligently pursues foreclosure proceedings in a timely fashion thereafter.

b. A property which is used on a seasonal basis shall be deemed to be abandoned only if the property meets any two of the additional criteria set forth in section 4 of P.L.2003, c.210 (C. 55:19-81).

c. A determination that a property is abandoned property under the provisions of P.L.2003, c.210 (C. 55:19-78 et al.) shall not constitute a finding that the use of the property has been abandoned for purposes of municipal zoning or land use regulation.

d. Upon the request of a purchaser or assignee of a tax sale certificate seeking to bar the right of redemption on an abandoned property pursuant to subsection b. of R.S.54:5-86, the public officer or the tax collector shall, in a timely fashion, provide the requester with a certification that the property fulfills the definition of abandoned according to the criteria set forth in sections 4 and 5 of P.L.2003, c.210 (C. 55:19-81 and C. 55:19-82).

L.2003,c.210,s.6; amended 2005, c.118, s.4