Hi All,

Are we doing anything about HB 1706 HD1?  Should we be sending emails and faxes voicing opposition to the Bill tonight?

Thanks

Another poorly worded bill, although the intent of this bill does make some sense to me.

I agree that rental owners of apartment and condo units should have some responsibility to keep building management informed of  on-island contacts. This bill would simply make it mandatory and provide building managers more support in gathering that info.

There are the obvious practical benefits for us as property owners. For example, if the unit above mine has a plumbimg failure I would want both that unit's guests as well as the building management to know how to notify that unit's on-island representative to get there ASAP to minimize damage, not only to that unit, but mine as well. This seems like a practical matter to empower building management to have contact numbers they need.

I do not like the reference to "rental agent" it is ambiguous as to its intended interpretation. I would feel more comfortable with the person being referred to as the "owner's agent" or better yet "the owner's representative." The bill assumes that the on-island agent for the owner will be responsible for the property management. That is a dangerous assumption  as currently worded. Owners and their on-site agent should maintain the power to determine how much management the on-island agent will share. It could range from the owner using a professional property management company all the way to contracting a responsible resident to act on the owner's behalf only in the event of emergencies. How the owner/ island-agent relation is defined should not be legislated any further than the owner's agent being a local resident who will be responsible in emergent situations.

I agree with what you are saying. I have already done this by the way. My association has a property management company on site and they have my list of who to call for emergencies…handyman. Housekeeping …All of us should have this in place. (I have experienced a large plumbing failure in another condo I own in another state--- this stuff happens!)

This will go to the governor if passed to be signed into law. The govenor in the past has veto'd bills. I suggest we start a campaign now to Gov. Abercrombie to say do not let this pass.

Include all the bill's that will be affecting all of us.

It says it applies to apartments

Houses do not seem to be affected by hb 1706 - but yu can still oppose it

even if you may not own a condo

I don't see how these bills have any chance of passing.  If they do, they will be challenged as illegal or unconstitutional.  This would be akin to the Federal Government forcing each citizen to funnel their income through a 3rd party to ensure all taxes have been paid.  While this happens to a large extent with employers automatically witholding taxes, there are a lot of self-employed and contract workers out there.  Can you imagine if they were all forced to send their monthly income to some "agency" or whatever before they received their money?  Not gonna happen.  Hawaii would do better to just create a database and require ALL vacation rentals to be registered and approved, with a license issued - not just those in VDA's.  That would serve as a double-check to ensure that taxes are being paid.  Too simple I guess....

Stop using common sense or you will be unable to relate to the legislators

or Hawaiian public.