Lakewood officials worried about safety issues are cracking down on overcrowded rental homes.

Investigators have been performing random inspections at more than 350 homes this year. Four houses are currently boarded up and the tenants inside have been kicked out. The township boarded up one home on Ridge Avenue because it was deemed structurally unsound for people to live in. The housing inspector says 15 people were living inside illegally.

One tenant says many people are packed into homes because of high rents and low wages. The township says tenants should contact the Quality of Life Task Force to help find better, affordable housing. However, some tenants say many of the renters are illegal immigrants and may not come forward.