Bill 108 - opinions?

[Molokai100]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

This is such a huge over the top exaggeration.

For the record, Hawaii is very landlord friendly and it is relatively easy to evict. Me thinks some have watched the movie Pacific Heights one to many times.

Not my experience at all. Ive had the police tell me squatters with no lease agreement would not be ousted, at least by them. This was in Kohala. Also, last year when i tried to have someone evicted there was evidently no one in that capacity on the Big Island. If I wanted that service it was going to cost me approximately $12K to fly a Sherrif from Maui.
I got out of the long term rental thing for good. After countless late payments, deadbeats and destruction of my property I had enough. The long term rental market has very few rewards and tons of risk and headache. I can easily see why so many landlords give up and go Airbnb.

[Islandbound4]

Originally Posted by je4xff

You're right - and that's an important distinction. In fact, now that I read more into it - it looks like the bill specifically wouldn't affect primary residences or Ohanas:

"The bill applies to rentals of 30 days or less. It doesn’t apply to short-term rentals of a dwelling unit that is the owner’s primary residence. It also does not include “hosted rentals,” meaning transient use of a single room or sleeping area of a residential dwelling unit or guest house where the owner or operator lives on the property."

What happens if you don't list your GET/TAT ID on the airbnb and rental sites but still pay the county taxes? The last two places I rented for one week in Kona and the other in Pahoa for almost a month didn't list their ID on site. I'm pretty sure the Pahoa place pays the taxes, I paid them when I arrived for check in.

How will the county find you if Airbnb doesn't give out info?

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Interesting about the tax ID on the rental site. I was looking at a VRBO listing here on the Big Island recently, and the owner showed a tax ID # from Honolulu. I wrote to them and asked if they had a tax ID # from the Big Island and they said "why do you want to know?" Needless to say, I didn't rent from them.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by Islandbound4

How will the county find you if Airbnb doesn't give out info?

On Airbnb. It’s not complicated if they wanted to crackdown

The renter has no responsibility to pay the taxes if not requested by the owner.

It’s all on the owner to collect and pay.

[Open-D]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

Ah - so, no state or county or city rights? Just federal government controlling everything - all 50 states follow every single rule the same? Or, just an exception for vacation rentals that only benefits tourists?

City rights, you say. I thought you were against people having the right create cities when they saw fit.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by Open-D

I thought you were against people having the right create cities when they saw fit.

I said that where?

I've only pointed out the State Constitution prohibits it - and it would be costly.

[Open-D]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

I said that where?

I've only pointed out the State Constitution prohibits it - and it would be costly.

Well you said this:

What do you think the "City" of Hilo be able to provide that isn't provided by the County.

And this:

There is already local representation.

Let's see - what can a City do?

Wait for it, yes - add a layer of taxes!



And this:

Like, wait for it - RAIL!

Anyway, there is nothing Honolulu gets that lets say - Kailua doesn't get, because it is the City and County of Honolulu.

Didn't appear to me at the time that you were in favor of the legal right for residents to form cities if, where and when they deemed it desirable be granted.

However, I don't want to re-argue the point. The advanced world knows and values the power of Incorporation in fostering progress.

Have a lovely day.