Applications and What the Landlord Discloses
HRS 521-46 — a screening fee only for actual costs, with what is unused back within thirty days
A landlord may charge an application screening fee, only for an applicant eighteen or older or emancipated, to cover the costs of reference checks, tenant reports, background checks and credit reports. On request the landlord gives a receipt and a breakdown of the costs, and returns any part not used for them within thirty days after submitting the screening requests.
Who handles this in Hawaii: legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the Hawaii directory.
- At or before the start of the tenancy, the landlord discloses in writing the name and address of each manager, and of an owner or agent for service of process and receiving rent and notices.
- A tenant under a written agreement receives a copy of it.
- The landlord gives a written receipt for rent at the time of payment; a canceled check also serves.
- A landlord living off island or out of state names an agent on the same island in the written agreement.
- The landlord may not require a postdated check for rent.
Sources for this section (3)
- HRS 521-46 — Application screening fee
- HRS 521-43 — Rental agreement, disclosure
- HRS 521-44 — Security deposits
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Hawaii attorney.