Hawaii Gov. Josh Green established an eviction moratorium following the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires to prevent possible hardships to residents recovering from the tragedy. The moratorium ended on Feb. 4. Courtesy photo

After six months of dealing with a complicated and challenging tenant situation, Maui landlord Matt Hans said he is finally able to return home.

For months, Hans said, he was in the middle of a tricky situation. Hans said he was renting out his condo in Kihei for the first time to what he thought was a wildfire survivor, but later learned that was not accurate. For the past several months, he and his tenant have been involved in ongoing disputes over late or absent rent, agreement violations and more.

The eviction moratorium was put in place by Hawai’i Gov. Josh Green following the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire in an effort to prevent landlords from possibly evicting tenants suffering from the tragic incident.

The eviction moratorium ended on Feb. 4, and a new law called Act 202 went into effect the next day. As landlords are now able to start the process of eviction, if needed, they are also being called to follow Act 202, which includes a process that requires landlords to notify Maui Mediation Services prior to an eviction.

But for people like Hans, it’s past the point of mediation. Hans said his tenant has moved out but owes him about $4,800 for rent, and that his unit has suffered extensive damages. But with the former renter leaving the island, he feels like there’s nowhere to go but forward.

He said through his experience, he’s learned a lot and started advocating for landlord protections.

“There really should have been an implementation of assurances to landlords that if the state is covering tenants who refuse to pay and they won’t evict them for it, then the state should be able to find a way to compensate the landlords and homeowners in the situation,” he said.

Jordan Hocker of the Maui Housing Hui, a group of community members collectively fighting to improve the housing problems on Maui, said the group is concerned there’s not enough resources available right now following the end of the moratorium.

“We have concerns that there aren’t enough rental assistance resources out there to help make Act 202 successful because when this mediation process was first done during COVID, there was rental assistance moneys that were paired with it so that tenants and landlords could get square on back rent if somebody qualifies, and there aren’t those accompanying funds,” she said.

She said the issue goes both ways — that there’s not enough resources available for tenants, which will also impacts landlords in the long run.

“Our concern is that people who have really been affected, who had a reduction in income or had a rental increase that fell behind, won’t have the resources to get right. And that also landlords could face potential losses without rental assistance being available along with Act 202,” she said.

On Feb. 15, there will be an event offering information and assistance to renters and landlords, as well as details of new procedures to handle evictions and disputes from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Maui Economic Opportunity on 99 Mahalani St., behind the J. Walter Cameron Center in Wailuku.

In attendance will be Maui Mediation Services and the State of Hawai`i with the support of local officials including Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura.

For more information, call Maui Mediation Services at 808-344-4255 or email LandlordTenantHelp@Maui Mediation.org. For more on the Maui Housing Hui, visit mauihousinghui.com.