Under a newly established incentive program, landlords who participate in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program can be reimbursed for up to one month’s rent if their rental unit sits vacant during the initial lease-up or between Section 8 tenants.

What You Need To Know

  • The incentive program was a key provision of House Bill 1752, which Gov. David Ige signed into law last month

  • The program is intended to increase participation in the Section 8 HCV program, thereby expanding the affordable housing market and helping to ease homelessness in the state

  • Under the program, landlords can be reimbursed for up to one month's rent if their rental unit sits vacant during the initial lease-up for between Section 8 tenants and for the cost of repairing damage caused by Section 8 tenants in excess of any security deposit

  • Landlords may also receive a “signing bonus” worth one month of rent

The incentive program was a key provision of House Bill 1752, which underwent three revisions in the state House, another in the Senate and another in conference before it was passed. Gov. David Ige signed the bill into law last month.

Administered by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, the program is intended to increase participation in the Section 8 HCV program, thereby expanding the affordable housing market and helping to alleviate homelessness in the state.

Under the program, landlords are also reimbursed for the cost of repairing damage caused by Section 8 tenants in excess of any security deposit. Landlords may also receive a “signing bonus” worth one month of rent.

HPHA is obliged to provide an inspection within 15 days of receiving a request to inspect a unit for lease-up.

HPHA invites interested landlords to visit homelessness.hawaii.gov/landlord-engagement/ for more information.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii.