Question: I found an apartment I can afford (miracle!) and I want to take it. But I am a little worried about the landlord. He is trying to charge me an extra month’s rent on top of the regular security deposit because I have a small dog. I told him this before I moved in, because I wanted to make sure pets were OK. Is this legal?
Answer: Yes.
Hawaii’s Residential Landlord-Tenant Code was modified in 2013 to allow landlords to charge tenants with pets a deposit of up to one month’s rent, in addition to the regular security deposit of up to one month’s rent.
The additional amount is intended to cover any damage to the dwelling caused by the pet. If your dog does no damage, you should get the money back when you move out. The general security deposit is refundable as well, as long as you abide by the lease agreement. A landlord can keep the general security deposit to cover unpaid rent, damage beyond regular wear and tear and various other misconduct by the tenant.
Under the code, the additional security deposit can be charged only for pets, not “for an assistance animal that is a reasonable accommodation for a tenant with a disability.”
The Pet Deposit Bill, as the modification was known as it made its way through the Hawaii Legislature that year, was supported by the Hawaiian Humane Society and other animal advocates, who predicted it would increase the availability of rental units to pet owners by giving landlords a way to mitigate potential damage. Before the change, it was illegal for landlords to charge pet owners a separate security deposit. They commonly charged them higher rent (which tenants never got back) or rejected them as tenants altogether, according to testimony in favor of the bill.
One last note: Approval to have a pet in a rental unit should be in writing, signed by both tenant and landlord, the Humane Society advises.
Q: With all the natural disasters happening around the world, I am trying to take the advice about disaster preparedness more seriously. But when they say you need two weeks’ worth of food and water, how much is that really for the average person? I don’t eat as much as my husband, and he eats more than he needs. So I am not sure.
A: Seven gallons of drinking water is considered a 14-day minimum supply for emergency survival, according to the city’s Department of Emergency Management. That’s per person.
As for food, the department cites a guide stating that to maintain current body weight, women generally require from 1,600 to 2,400 calories daily, and men need 2,000 to 3,000 calories a day.
Peanut butter, dried nuts, dried fruits and protein bars are among the foods the department lists as optimal for disaster-preparation kits, because they are easy to store and require no preparation to eat. Canned goods and other nonperishable foods also are options. Be sure you have enough to meet the caloric needs for 14 days for each member of the household.
Mahalo
I want to thank Wesley Vierra for his quick kindness when we were stranded on the way to town via Moanalua Freeway where it splits to H-3 and Red Hill. With traffic speeding by, he stopped and quickly changed our blown-out tire, instinctively. He is one of the reasons this place is called paradise and shows what aloha in action looks like. Mahalo to Wesley. — Melissa Meek
Mahalo
On Sept. 13 at the airport, Wilbur Wong and an Ewa Beach man came to our aid when our car battery was dead. The jumper cables didn’t work. We had to call AAA to replace the battery. We appreciate your kindness and generosity. — Grateful seniors
Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
