HAWAII INFORMATION RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES

INTRODUCTION

If you are planning to stay in Hawaii for longer than one month, consider the possibility of finding a house or condominium to rent. There are many units advertised as fully furnished which means beds, living room set, dining table & chairs, television, washer/dryer, appliances, kitchen utensils, etc. are included. There is also the option of partly furnished units. This usually means kitchen appliances are included but you supply the rest.

Prices are more moderate away from Waikiki and other tourist areas. Rental units at the present time are particularly low near the military bases. The reason is recent U.S. Congress appropriations to built new housing for military personnel and their dependents. Availability of housing inside the bases have depressed the rental market in surrounding areas.

INFORMATION SOURCES

Best way to obtain information about Hawaii rental properties is through the newspaper. The classified section contains extensive listings of homes and condominiums for rent. You can telephone the Hawaii Newspaper Agency at (808) 538-6397. HNA will arrange to send you 4 issues of the Honolulu Advertiser Sunday edition at a cost of $29.50 for domestic airmail delivery. Expect to receive it within a few days. International delivery rates are much higher. For example, it is $75.20 for 4 issues to Japan by airmail. Price is only $16.10 to Japan by surface mail but it takes longer than one month for delivery.

Another good source is Rentals Illustrated, a biweekly publication of Signum Corporation and available free of charge. The magazine can be found in Hawaii at participating supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, colleges, universities, military posts, etc. Rentals Illustrated can arrange to mail you a free copy but you pay for the cost of postage using a major creditcard. For more information, contact:

RENTALS ILLUSTRATED
1240 Ala Moana Boulevard, Suite 205
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
TEL: (808) 949-3686
EMAIL: SignumCorp@AOL.COM

SEARCH CRITERIAS

Do you want a single resident, duplex, townhouse orcondominium? One level or two-story structure? How many bedrooms?. Is proximity to beaches, shopping centers, public transportation, parks and schools important? What is the budget? Prices depend on many factors. For example, beachfront luxury hotels in Waikiki charge for more than $250.00 per night. That same room just across Kalakaua Ave. might be $120.00 per night. A similar rule applies when searching for rental property.

Remember that advertising is a selling tool. So it is important to ask and understand exactly what is being offered. A condominium advertised to accomodate 6 may refer to a single bedroom with 2 beds for 4 persons and a living room coach for 2 more. Some find this arrangement acceptable but others won't.

TAXES

Rental agreements for less than 6 months are subject to a 10.17% occupancy tax. Rentals for 6 months or longer are subject to a 4.17% tax. The landlord or his agent should make it clear whether the tax is already included or added to the price quoted.

RENTAL APPLICATION

Once you have made your choice, the landlord or his agent would want information about you. This is accomplished through a rental application that ask - among other things - for your name, home/work telephone, social security number, present address, names and relationship of every person who will live with you, your occupation and income. Bank,credit and personal references are often requested. The reason is to make sure you are financially qualified to rent and responsible for keeping the property in good condition.. They may also use a service to do a background check.

RENTAL AGREEMENT

Most owners (landlords) or property manager use the standard Rental Agreement form as prepared by the Hawaii Association of Realtors. Effective January 1, 1973, Hawaii's Residential Landlord Tenant Code was changed. It revised the law of residential landlord and tenant by changing the relationship from one based on the law of conveyance to a relationship that is primarily contractual in nature. In addition to the information already covered in the rental application form, the rental agreement stipulates terms and conditions of renting including but not limited to service charges and interest, security deposits, utility services, keys and locks, etc. If you would like to receive more information, write to the Hawaii Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs, 1010 Richards St., Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. Request for their "Residential Landlord-Tenant Code" handbook. There is a small charge.

It is a good idea to sign the RentalAgreement at the house you are renting so you can do the "Walk-Through" with the owner (landlord) or his agent. The purpose of the walk-through is to get inventory of the condition and furnishings including any appliances that are offered as part of the rental. Make notes on the agreement should there be any discrepancies. House rules, policies and procedures, if available in writing should be provided to you at this time.

Please note that a Rental Agreement is a legally binding contract. Therefore, prior to signing any Rental Agreement, you may want to consult a lawyer or real estate professional to make sure that you understand all the terms and conditions stipulated.

BEFORE MOVING IN

Unless already included as part of therental agreement, it is the responsibility of the renter to make arrangements to connect and to pay for utilities. Basic services include water, electricity, gas and telephone. Be sure to ask for explanations regarding installation fees, deposits and any other costs besides your monthly utility charges.

GTE HAWAIIAN TELEPHONE
Installation Service, Residential Customer
Service Hours - 8:00am to 5:00pm
TEL: (808) 643-3456

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY
Customer Assistance Center
Service Houses - 6:30am to 6:00pm
TEL: (808) 548-7311

BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY
Honolulu City and County
Customer Service Division
TEL: (808) 537-6284