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Hawaii room rental agreement
Written for Hawaii law, checked October 1, 2026 General information, not legal advice
Rentari offers a general room-rental agreement form, but it is not tailored to Hawaii or every local rule. Review the room, shared spaces, occupancy requirements, and applicable Hawaii and city rules before using a form. The state table below covers selected deposit and entry rules, not every room-rental requirement.
Hawaii rules that apply
- Security deposit limit
- 1 month's rent
- plus an agreed pet deposit of up to 1 more month
- HRS § 521-44(b)
- Entry notice
- 2 days
- except in an emergency or where impracticable; reasonable hours
- HRS § 521-53(b)
Security deposit limit
You may require a security deposit of up to one month's rent. If the lease allows a pet to live in the home, you may also agree on a pet deposit of up to one more month's rent. At the start of the tenancy you may not require or accept any money other than the first month's rent and the security deposit.
More detail (4)
- A pet deposit may not be charged to a tenant who has no pet living in the home, or for an assistance animal that is a reasonable accommodation for a tenant with a disability. HRS § 521-44(b)(1)
- The deposit may cover only: damage from the tenant's failure to keep up the unit, unpaid rent, and unreturned keys, key fobs, parking cards, garage door openers and mailbox keys; cleaning back to the condition at move-in; damages when a tenant wrongfully quits; pet damage; and unpaid landlord-provided utilities not included in the rent. HRS § 521-44(a)
- No part of the deposit counts as last month's rent unless you and the tenant agree in writing when the tenant gives 45 days' notice of vacating. Agreeing does not waive your claims for damage the tenant causes. HRS § 521-44(b)
- You may not require postdated checks or other negotiable instruments for rent. HRS § 521-44(e)
The Rentari Hawaii lease limits the deposit to one month's rent plus an optional pet deposit of up to one month and says no other money may be collected at the start of the tenancy; a move-in fee cannot be added to a Hawaii lease.
Landlord entry
Except in an emergency or where it is impracticable, give the tenant at least two days' notice of your intent to enter, and enter only at reasonable hours. The tenant may not unreasonably refuse entry to inspect, make necessary or agreed repairs, decorations, alterations or improvements, supply agreed services, or show the unit to buyers, lenders or prospective tenants.
More detail (4)
- You may not abuse the right of entry or use it to harass the tenant. You have no other right of entry except by court order, when the tenant appears to have abandoned the home, or during an extended absence. HRS § 521-53(b), (c)
- During a tenant's extended absence you may enter as reasonably necessary for inspection, maintenance and safekeeping, or for the purposes listed above. HRS § 521-70(b)
- A tenant who unreasonably refuses access is liable for the damage it causes. Except in an emergency such as fire, you are liable for theft or damage from an entry after the tenant refused that specific entry, an entry without consent when the tenant is present, or your negligence. HRS § 521-73(a), (b)
- Repeated demands for unreasonable entry, or an unreasonable entry without consent, let the tenant end the lease, and a circuit court may enjoin you and fine you up to $100. HRS § 521-73(c)
The Rentari Hawaii lease requires at least two days' notice at reasonable hours, except in an emergency or where impracticable, and lists the purposes and limits of entry.