ROH §39-1.13
New owner who doesn't live there can have rent reopened
Read the official text at honolulu.gov ↗If you buy or get a leasehold apartment from someone who used to live there, but you don't move in, the landlord can reopen the rent negotiation. The new rent will follow the lease's rules for non-owner-occupants and starts on the day you take ownership.
condominium ownerslandlords
The ordinance, as written (Honolulu County) — Renegotiated lease rent of new apartment owner who is not owner-occupant
A copy, taken August 22, 2026. The version published by Honolulu is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.
A lessor may reopen the renegotiated lease rent for the residential apartment of an apartment owner when:
(1) The apartment owner has purchased or otherwise received the leasehold interest in a residential apartment from a former owner-occupant; and
(2) The apartment owner does not occupy the residential apartment.
If reopened, the renegotiated lease rent for the residential apartment shall be set in accordance with the lease agreement for persons who are not owner-occupants and shall be effective as of the date of conveyance to the new apartment owner.
Published by the City and County of Honolulu through American Legal Publishing.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.