Rent survey to look at fair market prices

HONOLULU – SMS Research and Marketing Services will be surveying families on Oahu and Hawaii Island on what they are paying for rent. The Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC), Hawaii Public Housing Authority, and Counties of Honolulu and Hawaii have commissioned the survey.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annually publishes Fair Market Rents based on data from the U.S. Census. HUD’s Fair Market Rents are used to set pricing for many federally subsidized programs, including Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, that help low-income families obtain and keep safe, decent and sanitary housing.

Proposed HUD 2018 Fair Market Rents will decrease from 2017.

“Voucher holders already have a difficult time finding safe, decent and affordable rentals within the range of HUD Fair Market Rents. Decreasing Fair Market Rents will worsen the situation especially in high-rent areas such as West Hawaii,” said Neil Gyotoku, Hawaii Island Housing Administrator.

The information collected will be used to support the state’s request to HUD to re-evaluate the 2018 Fair Market Rents for Oahu and Hawaii Island. The surveys will be short and mailed to residences.