Latest on Vacation Rentals

[PaulW]

MarkD, you want someone (you? the government?) to regulate who landlords can rent their property to and for how much? Or maybe I've misunderstood.

[PaulW]

Apologies, Punaperson, I missed that bit. You should inform the owner of the vacation rental so they can inform the guests, if it's a recurring problem. Maybe a sign would help, if there isn't already one.

Then again, I've had people who live here come walking onto my property uninvited too.

[Chunkster]

I live 300 yards from an HPP property with two fully permitted vacation rentals on an acre. They stay busy because they are reasonably priced and well kept. The owner, a local woman who lives nearby, dutifully collects and pays all relevant taxes. They present far fewer problems in terms of noise and traffic than any of the half dozen long-term rentals on our mile long stretch of road. Yes, the vacationers do take occasional early morning walks, but I can only recall one before 07:00 that set my dogs off.

So the powers that be have decreed that vacation rentals will be drastically curtailed. Former Puna council rep Eileen Ohara voted for this mess, putting one more nail in her political coffin. Ohara acted more like a lah-tih-dah homeowners' association functionary than someone representing an economically challenged area where vacation rentals were a rare income bright spot. And make no mistake, when the inevitable tax revenue shortfalls result from this disastrous over-regulation, we will all get our taxes raised by Harry Kim or his clone who will say, "But we have no choice!"

[kalakoa]

when the inevitable tax revenue shortfalls result from this disastrous over-regulation, we will all get our taxes raised

They're not even waiting that long.

https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/201...committee/

Kim said his administration already cut costs, and not being able to tap into the full one-half percent of the county's option on the GET could spell property tax hikes. There just isn't enough money, he said.

https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/201...than-1-3m/

Reclassifying small agriculture lots of less than 1 acre that aren't doing agriculture and don't have a preferential dedicated or non-dedicated ag use, or are in the homeowner class, could bring in an extra $1.3 million this year.

Miura said the affected property owners will receive a letter this month and will see their tax classification change from agriculture to the higher residential tax rate this year.

NOTE this is considered a "reclassification" which is technically not an "increase", nor does it "upzone" the affected properties (they will still be zoned Ag for planning and permitting purposes).

https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/201...-advances/

"It's wreaking havoc on our county budget. … It will also at some point result in a tax increase," Chung said. "If you like tax increases, then keep it at 2 percent."

Exercise for the readership: pick from one (and only one) of the following two options.

(A) It is the will of the people to be taxed so heavily, and the public is fully in support of these tax increases.

(B) The machine decided more revenue was necessary, and the will of the taxpayers need not be taken into consideration.

[PaulW]

I hope those opposed to vacation rentals on punaweb at least scratch their chins and think "Hmmm" when they have to start paying the taxes that the tourists were so kindly paying for them.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Exercise for the readership: pick from one (and only one) of the following two options.

I pick (B), although I certainly don't want the substance of what is in (B).
I suppose I both pick and do not pick (B).
Schrodinger's County Cat Government, both alive to tax us and dead when asked to provide services.

[LazyLehua]

So being loyal Punawebber and a vacation rental owner, I have a unique point of view. I have always paid our taxes, we are in a tourist area, not on Ag land, we are registered and our neighbors are all aware we are a vacation rental. Maybe our difference is that we also use our home so we are there a few months out of the year. The new regulations are a bit out of touch from reality and really are meant to try and shut everyone down. There is a lot of paper and $$ involved to become “legal” under these new terms. I don’t think the State realizes how much revenue they will loose...as word on the street is that those who cannot get the permit will continue to operate under the radar as they always have and still will not pay taxes or the fines the County may try and tax on them.

Stacey
Living the life in Cali and Hawai‘i

[MarkD]

MarkD, you want someone (you? the government?) to regulate who landlords can rent their property to and for how much? Or maybe I've misunderstood.

- - - -
Yes, I support government control, including limits, on short term rentals. Huge difference between renting to tourists versus offering long term rentals. Hawaii is one of 5 states with the lowest "homeownership rate: 57.7 percent."

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/44822131/ns/bu...FpI3C2ZPBI

We're now also one of the states with a high homeless population, in part because of homes converted to VRBO.

Insofar as new rules on how long-term landlords run their business, No.

VRBOs--yes, regulation. But we should be more lenient to someone living on site who rents out his/her in-law apt. downstairs to tourists, versus people who buy 2nd and 3rd homes for the express purpose of VRBO.

[glinda]

Am I wong in thinking we have a shortage of long term rentals on island?

I know of people that say that is the case, and point to vacation rentals as making the situation much worse. Does anyone know the details, numbers? I hear that on some parts of the island there is just flat out no housing for local folks anymore. Is this a concern? Or is county/state not worrying about it?

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

We're now also one of the states with a high homeless population, in part because of homes converted to VRBO.

Are you suggesting net income of the average homeless person or family would qualify them for a home loan if VRBO was limited?

“I think your article has been interpreted as that you were OK with dwarf-tossing.” - Sen Mazie Hirono 2/5/19, questioning a (qualified?) judicial nominee (no doubt in defense of Menehune rights through her understanding of their historical plight)