Leaving Over Bad Conditions
HRS 521-63 — written notice and one week to fix it, or no notice at all where the unit is uninhabitable
Where a condition in the premises deprives the tenant of a substantial part of the benefit of the bargain, the tenant may notify the landlord in writing and, if it is not remedied within one week, end the rental agreement. No notice is needed where the condition makes the unit uninhabitable or poses an imminent threat to anyone's health or safety.
Who handles this in Hawaii: legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the Hawaii directory.
- The tenant may not end it over a condition the tenant, the family, or a guest caused through want of due care.
- Where the landlord caused the condition wilfully or negligently, the tenant may recover the damages it caused.
- The landlord returns any advance rent for the remaining days and the deposit not later than fourteen days after the termination.
Sources for this section (2)
- HRS 521-63 — Tenant's remedy of termination at any time; unlawful removal or exclusion
- HRS 521-66 — Tenant's right to refund of rent, etc., on termination; return of security deposit
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Hawaii attorney.