Any county, by resolution, or municipality, by ordinance, may acquire real property and any estate or interest therein, including a lease with option to purchase, which the governing body shall determine will be necessary or useful for the proper exercise of any power conferred upon the county or municipality by this or any other law, notwithstanding that the county or municipality will not make use of such estate or interest for a period not exceeding 10 years if:
During the period prior to the initiation of a program or project for the expenditure of public funds for capital purposes pursuant to the capital budget of the county or municipality, the county or municipality shall have all the powers and duties of a private person for purposes of collection of rents, fees, service charges and the provision of safe, decent and sanitary housing, section 24 to the contrary notwithstanding. Housing facilities in being at the time of acquisition shall be operated, maintained and improved by the county or municipality, or where the county or municipality so elects, by a county or municipal housing authority created pursuant to the Local Housing Authorities Law, (P.L. 1938, c. 19).
N.J.S. § 40A:12-11