HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1557

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO UNOCCUPIED residential properties.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Hawaii has the longest foreclosure process in the country.  As of the second quarter of 2018, Hawaii's foreclosure timeline from the first public notice to the end of the process can take as long as 1,553 days.  This period of the foreclosure process sometimes results in a situation known as a zombie foreclosure, where a homeowner moves out after foreclosure has been initiated but before the foreclosure is completed or the title to the property is transferred to the new owner after sale.

     In zombie foreclosure situations, because the homeowner is not occupying the property and the foreclosing party or prevailing purchaser cannot occupy the home due to not having title to the property, the property often falls into disrepair.  Squatters may start to illegally occupy the home and the property may become a center of criminal activity.  As a result, zombie foreclosure properties decrease the value of the home and the surrounding properties.

     The legislature finds that the use of unoccupied foreclosed residential properties as rental properties during the period between when a homeowner receives notice of a foreclosure action and the transfer of title to the prevailing purchaser after a foreclosure auction will mitigate the property depreciation and hazards that are associated with unoccupied homes.

     The purpose of this Act is to prevent residential property subject to judicial foreclosure actions from becoming unoccupied by:

     (1)  Making the homeowner liable for a fine if the homeowner fails to occupy or rent the foreclosed property thirty days after the notice of foreclosure has been served;

     (2)  Transferring liability to pay a fine from a homeowner to the foreclosing party if the sale of a foreclosed property is postponed or cancelled;

     (3)  Making a prevailing purchaser liable for a fine if the prevailing purchaser fails to transfer title of the foreclosed property within a specified time after the foreclosure sale; and

     (4)  Establishing the minimum conditions under which a renting party may rent a foreclosed property to a tenant.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§46-    Regulation, enforcement, and use of fines for unoccupied residential properties subject to judicial foreclosure.  (a)  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the county council of each county shall adopt and provide for the enforcement of ordinances regulating the fines imposed on the homeowner, foreclosing party, or prevailing purchaser of an unoccupied foreclosed property and the regulation of rentals of foreclosed properties pursuant to part     of chapter 667.

     (b)  All proceeds of the fine collected pursuant to this section and part     of chapter 667 shall be used by the county in the following priority:

     (1)  To reimburse the county for all administrative costs of regulating and enforcing the collection of the fines; and

     (2)  To improve the infrastructure in the residential subdivision within which the foreclosed property is located.

     (c)  For the purposes of this section:

     "Foreclosed property" shall have the same meaning as section 667-  .

     "Residential property" shall have the same meaning as section 667-  ."

     SECTION 3.  Chapter 667, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Part    .

judicial foreclosure of unoccupied residential properties

     §667-    Definitions.  For the purposes of this part:

     "Foreclosed property" means an unoccupied residential property subject to a judicial foreclosure action pursuant to part IA of chapter 667.

     "Rental agreement" means all agreements, written or oral, which establish or modify the terms, conditions, rules, regulations, or any other provisions concerning the use and occupancy of a foreclosed property by a tenant.

     "Renting party" means the homeowner, foreclosing party, or prevailing purchaser who rents the foreclosed property to a tenant pursuant to this part.

     "Residential property" means a one- or two-family unattached building designed or used exclusively for residential occupancy and located on a parcel zoned for residential use, and subject to judicial foreclosure.

     "Security deposit" means money deposited by or for the tenant with the renting party to be held by the renting party to:

     (1)  Remedy tenant defaults for accidental or intentional damages resulting from failure to maintain the foreclosed property, pay rent due, or return all keys furnished by the renting party at the termination of the rental agreement;

     (2)  Clean the foreclosed property or have it cleaned at the termination of the rental agreement so as to place the condition of the foreclosed property in as fit a condition as that which the tenant entered into possession of the foreclosed property;

     (3)  Compensate for damages caused by a tenant who wrongfully quits the foreclosed property;

     (4)  Compensate for damages caused by any pet animal allowed to reside in foreclosed property pursuant to the rental agreement; and

     (5)  Compensate the renting party for moneys owed by the tenant under the rental agreement for utility service provided by the renting party but not included in the rent.

     "Tenant" means any person who occupies a foreclosed property under a rental agreement.

     §667-    Imposition of fine.  (a)  A fine of $1,000 per day shall be imposed on a foreclosed property homeowner that does not occupy or rent the foreclosed property; provided that:

     (1)  The fine shall not start to accrue until      days after the homeowner is served with a notice of judicial foreclosure on the foreclosed property pursuant to section 667-5.5, and not including the day that the notice was served; and

     (2)  The fine shall cease to accrue against the foreclosed property homeowner:

          (A)  If the foreclosing party postpones or cancels the foreclosure sale; or

          (B)  Upon the date of the public sale

     (b)  A fine of $1,000 per day shall be imposed on the foreclosing party if the public sale is postponed or cancelled and the foreclosed property is unoccupied; provided that:

     (1)  The fine shall not start to accrue until      days after the date of the postponed or cancelled public sale, and not including the day of the public sale; and

     (2)  The fine shall cease to accrue against the foreclosing party:

          (A)  Upon the date a tenant is determined to have wrongfully quit the foreclosed property pursuant to section 667-  (d); provided that the fine shall begin to accrue      days after the determination if the foreclosed property is not occupied by that date; or

          (B)  Upon the date of the public sale.

     (c)  A fine of $1,000 per day shall be imposed on the prevailing purchaser in the public sale of a foreclosed property if the conveyance document to transfer title to the prevailing purchaser is not recorded within      days of the public sale and the foreclosed property is unoccupied; provided that

     (1)  The fine shall not start to accrue until      days after the date of the public sale; and

     (2)  The fine shall cease to accrue against the purchasing party on the date that the conveyance document is recorded.

     (d)  If a renting party fails to put a tenant into possession of the foreclosed property on the day and in the condition agreed upon in the rental agreement, fines shall start to immediately accrue against the renting party.  If a tenant fails to take possession of the foreclosed property on the day agreed upon in the rental agreement, the fine shall not start to accrue against the renting party until      days after the date that the tenant agreed to take possession of the foreclosed property.

     (e)  No fines shall accrue pursuant to this section when the foreclosed property is occupied.  If a foreclosed property becomes unoccupied after a period of occupancy, the fines shall:

     (1)  Be reinstated and start to accrue      days after the foreclosed property becomes unoccupied after a period of occupancy, except as provided in paragraph (2);

     (2)  Be reinstated and start to accrue      days after the foreclosed property becomes unoccupied due to a tenant wrongfully quitting the residential property; and

     (3)  Accrue against the homeowner, foreclosing party, or prevailing purchaser as provided in subsections (a), (b), or (c), respectively.

     (f)  No fines shall accrue pursuant to this section when the foreclosed property is uninhabitable or poses a threat to health or safety, as determined by the county or an agency of the State.

     §667-    County regulation, enforcement, and use of the fine.  The counties shall adopt legislation to:

     (1)  Regulate and enforce the imposition of the fine as provided in section 667-  ; and

     (2)  Require that the proceeds of the fine, after the county has been reimbursed for all administrative costs of regulating and enforcing the fine, be used for the infrastructure development of the residential subdivision within which the foreclosed property is located.

     §667-    Exemption from the residential landlord-tenant code.  Chapter 521 shall not apply to any residential agreement entered into between a renting party and tenant pursuant to this part; provided that the renting party has not rented the foreclosed property to the tenant for longer than      days; and provided further than the foreclosed property has not been rented to any tenants for longer than      cumulative days.

     §667-    Rent; security deposit.  (a)  The renting party and tenant may agree to any consideration, not otherwise prohibited by law, as rent.  Rents shall be payable at the time and place agreed to by the parties.  Where the rental agreement provides for a late charge payable to the renting party for rent not paid when due, the late charge shall not exceed eight per cent of the amount of rent due.

     (b)  The renting party may require, as a condition of a rental agreement, a security deposit to be paid by or for the tenant in an amount not in excess of a sum equal to one month's rent.  No part of the security deposit shall be construed as payment of the last month's rent by the tenant, unless mutually agreed upon, in writing, by the renting party and tenant.

     (c)  The renting party may require, as a condition of rental agreement, a security deposit in an amount agreed upon by the renting party and tenant to compensate the renting party for any damages caused by any pet animal allowed to reside in the foreclosed property pursuant to the rental agreement; provided that the additional security deposit amount for a pet animal under this subsection:

     (1)  Shall not be required:

          (A)  From any tenant who does not have a pet animal that resides in the premises; or

          (B)  For an assistance animal that is a reasonable accommodation for a tenant with a disability pursuant to section 515-3; and

     (2)  Shall be in an amount not in excess of a sum equal to one month's rent.

No part of the security deposit agreed upon by the renting party and tenant to compensate the renting party for any damages caused by any pet animal allowed to reside in the foreclosed property shall be construed as payment of the last month's rent by the tenant, unless mutually agreed upon, in writing, by the renting party and tenant.

     (d)  For the purposes of this section, if a tenant is absent from the foreclosed property for a continuous period of twenty days or more without written notice to the renting party, the tenant shall be deemed to have wrongfully quit the foreclosed property; provided that the tenant shall not be considered to be absent from the foreclosed property without notice to the renting party during any period for which the renting party has received payment of rent.  With respect to such a tenant, the renting party may retain the entire amount of any security deposit the renting party has received from or on behalf of such tenant.

     §667-    Prohibition on use of an unoccupied residential property subject to judicial foreclosure as a vacation rental.  A foreclosed property shall not be considered to be occupied if it is used as a vacation rental.  Fines pursuant to section 667-   shall accrue against the homeowner, foreclosing party, or prevailing purchaser if the foreclosed property is used as a vacation rental.

     §667-    Tenant's remedies for failure by renting party to supply possession.  (a)  If the renting party fails to put the tenant into possession of the foreclosed property in the agreed condition at the beginning of the agreed term:

     (1)  The tenant shall not be liable for the rent during any period the tenant is unable to enter into possession;

     (2)  At any time during the period the tenant is so unable to enter into possession the tenant may notify the renting party that the tenant has terminated the rental agreement; and

     (3)  The tenant shall have the right to recover damages in the amount of reasonable expenditures necessary to secure adequate substitute housing, the recovery to be made either by action brought in the district court or by deduction from the rent upon submission to the renting party of receipts totaling at least:

          (A)  The amount of abated rent; plus

          (B)  The amount claimed against the rent.

     (b)  In any district court proceeding brought by the tenant under this section, the court may award the tenant substitute housing expenditures, reasonable court costs, and attorney's fees.

     §667-    Medical cannabis; tenant use; eviction.  Any provision in a rental agreement allowing for eviction of a tenant who has a valid certificate for the medical use of cannabis in any form is void unless the rental agreement allows for eviction for smoking tobacco and the tenant uses medical cannabis by means of smoking.

     §667-    Early termination of tenancy; change of locks; victims of domestic violence.  (a)  A tenant may terminate a rental agreement without penalty or fees for early termination or liability for future rent if the tenant or an immediate family member of the tenant residing at the foreclosed property has been the victim of domestic violence during the ninety days preceding the date the notice of early termination was provided to the renting party.  The notice shall be given at least fourteen days prior to the early termination date specified in the notice, which shall be no more than one hundred four days from the date of the most recent act of domestic violence.

     Subject to subsections (b) and (c), if a tenant of a foreclosed property or an immediate family member of the tenant has been the victim of domestic violence and the tenant does not elect to be released from the rental agreement, the tenant may require the renting party to change the locks to the foreclosed property by submitting a request to the renting party to do so.

     (b)  Within three days of the receipt of the request in subsection (a), the renting party shall change the locks at the tenant's expense.  If the renting party fails to act within the three-day period, the tenant may change the locks without the renting party's permission and shall give the renting party a key to the new locks.

     (c)  If the person who committed domestic violence against the tenant or immediate family member of the tenant is also a party to the rental agreement, the locks shall not be changed unless there is a court order requiring the person to vacate the foreclosed property and a copy of the order has been furnished to the renting party.

     (d)  The tenant shall not be required to pay any additional rent, fees, or security deposit because of the exclusion of the person who committed domestic violence from the foreclosed property.

     (e)  The person who committed domestic violence against the tenant or immediate family member of the tenant shall not be entitled to any damages or other relief against the renting party or the tenant who in good faith complies with this section.

     §667-    Court order to vacate; domestic violence.  (a)  If a court of competent jurisdiction, in an action relating to domestic violence, has ordered the person who committed domestic violence against the tenant or immediate family member of the tenant to vacate the foreclosed property, upon issuance of the order, neither the renting party nor the tenant shall have any duty to:

     (1)  Allow the person access to the foreclosed property, unless the person is accompanied by a law enforcement officer; or

     (2)  Provide the person with keys to the foreclosed property.

     (b)  If the person is a party to the rental agreement, then upon issuance of the court order requiring the person to vacate the foreclosed property, the person's interest in the tenancy shall terminate, and the renting party and remaining tenant shall be entitled to any actual damages resulting from that termination.

     (c)  Any remaining tenant shall not be required to pay any additional rent, fees, or security deposit because of the termination of the person who committed domestic violence's interest as a tenant of the foreclosed property.

     §667-    Other provisions applicable.  All of the provisions of chapter 667 not inconsistent with this part and which may appropriately be applied to the persons, circumstances, and situations in a judicial foreclosure of an unoccupied residential property subject to this part shall be applicable to the rights and obligations imposed by this part."

     SECTION 4.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 5.  If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.

     SECTION 6.  New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Unoccupied Residential Property; Foreclosure

 

Description:

Imposes fines on a homeowner, foreclosing party, or prevailing purchaser in foreclosure auctions when a vacant residential property subject to foreclosure remains unoccupied during the foreclosure process.  Establishes conditions under which a property may be rented.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.