‘Distasteful’: Flood victims say landlord is raising rent as they recover from Kona low

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A water main break flooded 14 units on Koali Road in Manoa back in October. Months later, residents said the apartments were swamped again during the second Kona Low storm.

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Now, as residents recover, they say their property manager has informed them their rent will increase.

“It was a little shocking, I didn’t expect them to raise the rent so soon, especially because we’re still recovering from the disaster,” tenant Alexandra Matzkin said.

Matzkin said she found a notice about the rent hike taped to her door and will have to begin paying $250 more a month.

She called the increase especially untimely, saying management has not yet fixed most of the flood-damaged homes.

“I have neighbors whose handicap ramps need to be replaced so they can go to the doctors. I have neighbors who still don’t have ovens. I have neighbors who have been waiting since six months ago to have their floors replaced and for them to try and come and charge more rent on top of that, just seems really distasteful,” Matzkin added.

While Matzkin said her unit has been repaired, she sympathizes with neighbors whose homes have not.

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The property manager has told HNN in the past that he has been trying his best. HNN previously reported on Matzkin’s neighbor, Carlos Jimenez, whose ceiling was replaced after heavy rains ruined it.

When Matzkin asked why rent was going up, she said she was told it was due to an increased water bill. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply increased sewer fees by 6% this year.

“I’m not really sure if I believe that,” Matzkin said. “My personal suspicion is it has to do with the fact that they’re required by law to repair these apartments and doing that is very costly, and now they’re trying to recoup those losses.”

Another neighbor, Janis Chang, said she was told she will have to pay $300 more each month.

“The thing is, it’s not across the board, first of all, which seems rather unfair. It has been rather stressful,” Chang shared.

HNN reached out to the property manager on Sunday and is still waiting to hear back.

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