Landlord Tenant Q&A
Q. I just finished doing a major renovation to my home I added a master suite with a bathroom. I did the work under an Owner-Builder permit and the cost ran about $20,000. My intention was to continue living in the home but situations have changed and I have decided to put it on the [...]
Published on: January 14th, 2012Landlord Tenant Q&A
RICHARD VIERRA (B), RMP Principal Broker & Director of Property Management Hawaii Reserves, Inc. National Association of Residential Property Managers Regional Vice President / Past President, Oahu Chapter Q. A couple has rented from me for a long time in a second story walk-up. The wife is now having a problem walking and I am [...]
Published on: November 19th, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
CATHERINE M. MATTHEWS (R), GRI Broker-In Charge, Callahan Realty, Ltd. Past President, Oahu Chapter National Association of Residential Property Managers During our NARPM sponsored seminar in August we had a question and answer period where members of the audience had an opportunity to pose questions to a panel of experts. We had many more questions [...]
Published on: November 12th, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
LURLINE R. JOHNSON (R), ABR, CRB, CRS, GRI, RMP Property Manager Property Profiles, Inc. Past President, Oahu Chapter National Association of Residential Property Managers Q. We received a notice on our door saying that our rental property is going into foreclosure. We just renewed our lease and have another 11 months left to go. What [...]
Published on: November 5th, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
DARLENE HIGA (RA), RMP Property Manager, The Realty Company, Ltd. Past President, Oahu Chapter National Association of Residential Property Managers Q. I have recently had a couple of tenants ask me if I will rent to Section 8. What does this mean? What is Section 8? A. Section 8 is a program that assists families [...]
Published on: October 22nd, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
CATHERINE M. MATTHEWS (R), GRI Broker-In Charge, Callahan Realty, Ltd. Past President, Oahu Chapter National Association of Residential Property Managers Q. Can you make some suggestions on preparing an Inventory and Condition form? Can I substitute pictures in place of a form if the tenant agrees? A. Inventory and Condition forms are very important in [...]
Published on: October 15th, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
CARL L. FRAZIER (R), PB Owner, Principal Broker Cornerstone Properties Past President, Oahu Chapter National Association of Residential Property Managers and National Conference Speaker Q. I have a house that I rented to several single roommates. Their lease is coming up for renewal and I would like some advice. I currently have them all on [...]
Published on: October 8th, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
LURLINE R. JOHNSON (R), ABR, CRB, CRS, GRI, RMP Property Manager Property Profiles, Inc. Past President, Oahu Chapter National Association of Residential Property Managers Q. Pets in rentals is a subject we are frequently asked to comment on as property managers. Questions about renting to pet owners come to us both from tenants and owners [...]
Published on: October 1st, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
CATHERINE M. MATTHEWS (R), GRI Broker-In Charge, Callahan Realty, Ltd. Past President, Oahu Chapter National Association of Residential Property Managers Because of the huge success of our recent NARPM Property Management Seminar, I’ve decided to use our weekly column this Sunday to say “mahalo” to the approximately 300 people who attended, to our seminar committee [...]
Published on: September 17th, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
LAURENE H. YOUNG, RMP, REALTOR Lui & Young Realty, Inc. 2011 President, Oahu Chapter National Association of Residential Property Managers Q. I’m not sure what I have to declare as rental income on my taxes? What if my tenant does work for me in lieu of rent? What if I want to rent [...]
Published on: August 27th, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
RICHARD VIERRA (B), RMP Principal Broker & Director of Property Management Hawaii Reserves, Inc. National Association of Residential Property Managers Regional Vice President / Past President, Oahu Chapter Q. Is the Fair Housing Law a national codification that has to be observed in every state? Do the two sets of regulations and laws we are [...]
Published on: August 20th, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
LAURENE H. YOUNG, RMP, REALTOR Lui & Young Realty, Inc. 2011 President, Oahu Chapter National Association of Residential Property Managers Q. I think I found bedbugs in the property I am renting. Who is responsible for treating this? I don’t know how I got them…I keep the unit neat and clean. A. What a nightmare! [...]
Published on: August 13th, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
CATHERINE M. MATTHEWS (R), GRI Broker-In Charge, Callahan Realty, Ltd. Past President, Oahu Chapter National Association of Residential Property Mangers Q. I recently went to check on a tenant because their rent was late and they weren’t returning my telephone calls. I sent them a letter and additionally posted a copy on the front door [...]
Published on: August 6th, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
CARL L. FRAZIER (R), PB Owner, Principal Broker Cornerstone Properties Past President, Oahu Chapter National Association of Residential Property Mangers and National Conference Speaker Q. A rental unit that I own has often been maintained in a careless manner by tenants. I want to make visits to the property more regularly to encourage my future [...]
Published on: July 30th, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
Q. I recently heard about a new law for properties built before 1970 that requires an owner to use a special type of contractor to work on the property. My property was built in 1965 and needs to have the front door replaced due to old termite damage. Does this law apply to me? A. [...]
Published on: July 16th, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
CATHERINE M. MATTHEWS (R), GRI Broker-In Charge, Callahan Realty, Ltd. Past President, Oahu Chapter National Association of Residential Property Mangers Q. I have owned a small home for a number of years. I am now moving to the Mainland to be closer to my children and grandchildren. I will need to hire a property manager [...]
Published on: July 9th, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
LURLINE R. JOHNSON (R), ABR, CRB, CRS, GRI, RMP Property Manager Property Profiles, Inc. Past President, Oahu Chapter National Association of Residential Property Managers Q. I am a member of the armed forces and have been living on base. At this time the barracks are getting overcrowded with new members arriving to the Islands. We [...]
Published on: June 25th, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
PRIMROSE K. LEONG-NAKAMOTO (RA), RMP, CRS, GRI, ABR Property Manager, Nakamoto Realty, LLC. Past President, Oahu Chapter National Association of Residential Property Managers Q. I have a good job and good credit. I take good care of the unit I rent. If I take care and pay the rent on time, why does it matter [...]
Published on: June 18th, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
CATHERINE M. MATTHEWS (R), GRI Broker-In Charge, Callahan Realty, Ltd. Past President, Oahu Chapter National Association of Residential Property Mangers Q. I live in an apartment building and my electricity is included in my rent. Last Friday the electricity went out. I called my landlord and he said there was nothing he could do, it [...]
Published on: June 10th, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
Q. I lived in several different apartment complexes on the Mainland. When I wanted a rental, the building superintendent could give me a list of everything available in the building. When I had a problem, even a minor one like changing burned out light bulbs, I’d call the building superintendent and he would do it [...]
Published on: June 4th, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
Q. Eight months ago I rented a two bedroom cottage on my property to a single man. When he reviewed the lease with me I asked if he planned to be the sole occupant. He said yes, but that his fiancee frequently visited and sometimes stayed on weekends…they planned to marry and at that point [...]
Published on: May 28th, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
LURLINE R. JOHNSON (R), ABR, CRB, CRS, GRI, RMP Property Manager Property Profiles, Inc. Past President, Oahu Chapter National Association of Residential Property Managers Q. My landlord gave us approval to bring in a puppy. He said we had to get “renter’s insurance” to cover any liability issues which we are okay with. He also [...]
Published on: May 21st, 2011Landlord/Tenant HAWAII’S Homes Q&A
CATHERINE M. MATTHEWS (R), GRI Broker-In Charge, Callahan Realty, Ltd. Past President, Oahu Chapter National Association of Residential Property Mangers Q. I am really angr y at my landlord. She came to do an inspection and told me I had to pay for half of the damage to the ceiling in the living room because [...]
Published on: April 2nd, 2011Landlord Tenant Q&A
Q. I’ve been investing in rentals for the past 30 years and currently own 14 units in various parts of Oahu. I’ve been managing them myself, but have reached a point in life where I want to start downsizing and spending more time traveling. I understand many property managers are also real estate agents who [...]
Published on: January 24th, 2010Landlord Tenant Q&A
Q. I rent out a small house to a couple who like to do a lot of Christmas decorating. They string lights around the perimeter of the roof and in outdoor trees that are close to the house. Inside they light the Christmas tree, wreathes, and garlands. They leave the lights on all day and [...]
Published on: December 20th, 2009Landlord Tenant Q&A
Q. I am a single person with a good job but limited income which does not always put me in a position to rent the type of apartment I would like to have. The lease on my current rental, which is small and not convenient to either my workplace or shopping, will expire at the [...]
Published on: December 6th, 2009Landlord Tenant Q&A
Q. If an outgoing tenant fails to clean the rental satisfactorily, that is, according to the standards of the landlord, and does not return it to the condition it was in at the time he/she took possession, can the landlord bill for his/her time and deduct from the deposit. In the particular case I am [...]
Published on: November 29th, 2009Landlord Tenant Q&A
Richard Vierra RMP Past President, Oahu Chapter National Association of Residential Property Managers Director of Property Management Hawaii Reserves, Inc. Q. Five years ago I pulled cash out of a refi and invested in a small multi-unit building in a nice Honolulu neighborhood. The tenants are a mix of young people saving up to buy [...]
Published on: November 15th, 2009Landlord Tenant Q&A
Q. Like many property managers and landlords, I’ve decided it’s time to “go green” with my rental units. I plan to start by requiring that compact fluorescent bulbs only be used in the apartments. I intend to include an addendum in the lease indicating that the compact fluorescents are to be purchased at the tenant’s [...]
Published on: May 8th, 2009