Hawaii landlord repair laws
What your landlord is required to fix, how long they have once you put it in writing, and what Hawaiilaw lets you do if they don't.
The deadline
7 days after written notice
Under HRS § 521-63(a), if you do not remedy the condition within one week of receiving this notice, I may terminate the rental agreement. Under § 521-64(c) you must commence repairs within three business days for electrical, plumbing or major appliances necessary for sanitary and habitable living, and within twelve business days after written notification of other material noncompliance.
HRS § 521-42 · HRS §§ 521-63, 521-64
What your landlord must maintain
Under HRS § 521-42, a landlord must comply with applicable building and housing laws materially affecting health and safety, keep common areas of multi-dwelling premises clean and safe, and maintain all electrical, plumbing and other facilities and appliances in good working order.
Conditions the statute covers
- ✓No running water
- ✓Electrical system not working or unsafe
- ✓Plumbing not in working order
- ✓Sewage backup or unsanitary conditions
- ✓Supplied appliances not working — stove, refrigerator
- ✓Unsafe floors, stairs, railings, ceiling, or roof
- ✓Roof, window, or plumbing leak causing damage
- ✓Mold growth
- ✓Rodent or insect infestation
- ✓Common areas unsafe or unsanitary
- ✓No garbage receptacles or removal
- ✓Broken exterior door, window, or lock
- ✓Building or housing code violation
What you can do about it
Once written notice has been given and the statutory period has passed, you may terminate the rental agreement under § 521-63, and — where the condition was caused wilfully or negligently by you — recover the damages I sustain, and correct the condition and deduct the cost from rent under § 521-64.
Repair-and-deduct limit: under § 521-64(d) the deduction may not exceed $1,000 or one month's rent, whichever is greater, upon submission to you of receipts amounting to at least the sum deducted. (Shown for a $1,500 monthly rent where the limit depends on rent.)
Retaliation is illegal
HRS § 521-74 prohibits retaliation against a tenant who has in good faith requested repairs under § 521-63 or § 521-64, and § 521-74(c) permits recovery of damages and the cost of suit including reasonable attorney's fees.
Limits and exceptions
Under § 521-64(e) a tenant must list every known condition in the first notice or be estopped for six months, and total repair costs chargeable to the landlord may not exceed three months' rent in any six-month period. Hawaii imposes no duty to supply heat, and under § 521-42(a)(5)–(6) the rubbish-removal and running-water duties do not apply to a single-family residence, or where the building is not required by law to be equipped for the purpose.
Put it in writing — the way the statute expects
We'll write your notice citing HRS § 521-42, the deadline it gives your landlord, and what happens if they miss it. Free to generate and download. If you want it sent USPS Certified Mail with tracking, we do that too.
Write my Hawaii repair noticeCommon questions
- How long does a landlord have to make repairs in Hawaii?
- Under HRS § 521-63(a), if you do not remedy the condition within one week of receiving this notice, I may terminate the rental agreement. Under § 521-64(c) you must commence repairs within three business days for electrical, plumbing or major appliances necessary for sanitary and habitable living, and within twelve business days after written notification of other material noncompliance. That clock starts when your landlord receives written notice — which is why how you send it matters.
- Can I withhold rent or repair it myself in Hawaii?
- Hawaii allows repair-and-deduct within limits: under § 521-64(d) the deduction may not exceed $1,000 or one month's rent, whichever is greater, upon submission to you of receipts amounting to at least the sum deducted. You must give written notice first, and the statutory waiting period must pass before you act.
- Can my landlord retaliate if I ask for repairs in Hawaii?
- HRS § 521-74 prohibits retaliation against a tenant who has in good faith requested repairs under § 521-63 or § 521-64, and § 521-74(c) permits recovery of damages and the cost of suit including reasonable attorney's fees.
- Do I have to put a repair request in writing in Hawaii?
- Yes — and it is the single most important step. Under HRS §§ 521-63, 521-64, the landlord's obligations and your remedies run from written notice. A text message or a phone call generally leaves you arguing about whether and when your landlord was told.
Moving out of this Hawaii rental?
Hawaii gives your landlord 14 days to return your security deposit under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44. See the deposit rules →
Verified against Hawaii's published statute text on August 11, 2026 — read the statute yourself. General information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm.