Last reviewed September 2026
Written by LawLease Editorial
Free template
Download a free Roommate Agreement template
A blank, printable form — fill it in by hand. Or build a guided version with Hawaii set as the governing state. Create a free account to download.
Hawaii Roommate Agreement
This Roommate Agreement is built with Hawaii as the governing state. These are the Hawaii landlord-tenant rules that most often bear on it, with the statute for each.
Hawaii rules at a glance
| Security deposit limit | 1 month’s rent, plus up to 1 more month as a pet depositHRS §521-44(b) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return | 14 days, with written evidence of costs — or the landlord forfeits the right to keep any of itHRS §521-44(c) |
| Deposit rules | The one-month cap, the 14-day deadline and the forfeiture rule apply no matter what the lease says (§521-44). |
| Month-to-month termination | Landlord 45 days · tenant 28 daysHRS §521-71(a)–(b) |
Security deposits in Hawaii
Hawaii limits the security deposit to one month’s rent. Where the tenant keeps a pet, the landlord may collect an additional pet deposit of up to one more month’s rent — but never for an assistance animal kept by a tenant with a disability (§521-44(b)).
- Permitted uses — Unpaid rent and other tenant defaults, damage beyond normal wear and tear, cleaning to move-in condition, pet damage, and unpaid utility charges (§521-44(a)).
- Not last month’s rent — No part of the deposit can be treated as the last month’s rent unless both sides agree in writing (§521-44(b)).
- 14-day deadline — Within 14 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit or give written notice of the reasons for keeping any part of it, with written evidence of the costs such as estimates or invoices (§521-44(c)).
- Forfeiture — A landlord who doesn’t meet the 14-day notice requirement isn’t entitled to retain any part of the deposit — even for real damage (§521-44(c)).
- Bad-faith penalty — If the landlord wrongfully and willfully kept deposit money, the small claims court may award three times the amount withheld, plus costs (§521-44(h)).
Tenant protections you can’t waive
- No liability waivers — A lease clause exempting the landlord from liability for its own or its agents’ acts, or making the tenant indemnify the landlord for them, is void (§521-33).
- No lockouts — If a landlord removes or excludes a tenant overnight without cause or a court order, the tenant can recover possession or end the lease and collect two months’ rent (or two months of free occupancy) plus attorney’s fees (§521-63(c)).
- No retaliation — A landlord can’t raise rent, cut services or evict because the tenant complained to a government agency or requested repairs in good faith (§521-74).
- Deposit rules — The one-month cap, the 14-day deadline and the forfeiture rule apply no matter what the lease says (§521-44).
Hawaii Roommate Agreement FAQs
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Hawaii?
No more than one month’s rent. A landlord may also collect a separate pet deposit of up to one additional month’s rent, but not for an assistance animal (HRS §521-44(b)).
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Hawaii?
14 days after the tenancy ends. Within that window the landlord must return the deposit or explain in writing why any part is being kept, with evidence of the costs. Miss it and the landlord can’t keep any of the deposit (§521-44(c)).
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in Hawaii?
The landlord must give 45 days’ written notice; the tenant only 28 days. Tenancies shorter than month-to-month need 10 days (§521-71).
More Hawaii landlord documents
- Hawaii Residential Lease Agreement
- Hawaii Eviction Notice
- Hawaii Security Deposit Return Letter
- Hawaii Rent Increase Notice
- Hawaii Notice to Vacate
- Hawaii Application Approval Letter
- Hawaii Application Denial Letter
- Hawaii Background & Credit Check Authorization
- Hawaii Rental Application
- Hawaii Co-Signer Guarantor Agreement
- Hawaii Bed Bug Addendum
- Hawaii Mold & Mildew Addendum
- Hawaii No-Smoking Addendum
- Hawaii Parking & Storage Addendum
- Hawaii HOA & Community Rules Addendum
- Hawaii Crime-Free Housing Addendum
- Hawaii Utilities & Services Addendum
- Hawaii Early Termination Addendum
- Hawaii Lease Extension Addendum
- Hawaii Lead-Based Paint Disclosure
- Hawaii Military Clause (SCRA)
- Hawaii Pet Addendum
- Hawaii Cash for Keys Agreement
- Hawaii Mutual Lease Termination Agreement
- Hawaii Lease Renewal Agreement
- Hawaii Notice of Non-Renewal
- Hawaii Late Rent Notice
- Hawaii Lease Violation Notice
- Hawaii Notice of Entry
- Hawaii Move-In / Move-Out Inspection Checklist
- Hawaii Rent Receipt
- Hawaii Rent Verification Letter
- Hawaii Tenant Welcome Letter
- Hawaii Property Management Agreement
- Hawaii Commercial Lease
- Hawaii Rent-to-Own Agreement
- Hawaii Short-Term Rental Agreement
- Hawaii Room Rental Agreement
- Hawaii Spanish Lease Agreement
- Hawaii Sublease Agreement
- Hawaii Lease Amendment
Roommate Agreement in other states
- Alabama Roommate Agreement
- Alaska Roommate Agreement
- Arizona Roommate Agreement
- Arkansas Roommate Agreement
- California Roommate Agreement
- Colorado Roommate Agreement
- Connecticut Roommate Agreement
- Delaware Roommate Agreement
- Florida Roommate Agreement
- Georgia Roommate Agreement
- Idaho Roommate Agreement
- Illinois Roommate Agreement
- Indiana Roommate Agreement
- Iowa Roommate Agreement
- Kansas Roommate Agreement
- Kentucky Roommate Agreement
- Louisiana Roommate Agreement
- Maine Roommate Agreement
- Maryland Roommate Agreement
- Massachusetts Roommate Agreement
- Michigan Roommate Agreement
- Minnesota Roommate Agreement
- Mississippi Roommate Agreement
- Missouri Roommate Agreement
- Montana Roommate Agreement
- Nebraska Roommate Agreement
- Nevada Roommate Agreement
- New Hampshire Roommate Agreement
- New Jersey Roommate Agreement
- New Mexico Roommate Agreement
- New York Roommate Agreement
- North Carolina Roommate Agreement
- North Dakota Roommate Agreement
- Ohio Roommate Agreement
- Oklahoma Roommate Agreement
- Oregon Roommate Agreement
- Pennsylvania Roommate Agreement
- Rhode Island Roommate Agreement
- South Carolina Roommate Agreement
- South Dakota Roommate Agreement
- Tennessee Roommate Agreement
- Texas Roommate Agreement
- Utah Roommate Agreement
- Vermont Roommate Agreement
- Virginia Roommate Agreement
- Washington Roommate Agreement
- West Virginia Roommate Agreement
- Wisconsin Roommate Agreement
- Wyoming Roommate Agreement
Create your document in under 5 minutes
Answer a few plain questions, then download or e-sign. Built for landlords and tenants.
Get started