Free Hawaii Security Deposit
Return Letter Template

Hawaii Security Deposit Return Letter

When a tenancy ends, a Hawaii landlord has a set time to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions. Here’s what Hawaii’s statute says.

Hawaii rules at a glance

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 Security Deposit Return Letter FAQs

More Hawaii landlord documents

• Hawaii Residential Lease Agreement
• Hawaii Eviction Notice
• 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 Roommate Agreement
• Hawaii Spanish Lease Agreement
• Hawaii Sublease Agreement
• Hawaii Lease Amendment

Security Deposit Return Letter in other states

• Alabama Security Deposit Return Letter
• Alaska Security Deposit Return Letter
• Arizona Security Deposit Return Letter
• Arkansas Security Deposit Return Letter
• California Security Deposit Return Letter
• Colorado Security Deposit Return Letter
• Connecticut Security Deposit Return Letter
• Delaware Security Deposit Return Letter
• District of Columbia Security Deposit Return Letter
• Florida Security Deposit Return Letter
• Georgia Security Deposit Return Letter
• Idaho Security Deposit Return Letter
• Illinois Security Deposit Return Letter
• Indiana Security Deposit Return Letter
• Iowa Security Deposit Return Letter
• Kansas Security Deposit Return Letter
• Kentucky Security Deposit Return Letter
• Louisiana Security Deposit Return Letter
• Maine Security Deposit Return Letter
• Maryland Security Deposit Return Letter
• Massachusetts Security Deposit Return Letter
• Michigan Security Deposit Return Letter
• Minnesota Security Deposit Return Letter
• Mississippi Security Deposit Return Letter
• Missouri Security Deposit Return Letter
• Montana Security Deposit Return Letter
• Nebraska Security Deposit Return Letter
• Nevada Security Deposit Return Letter
• New Hampshire Security Deposit Return Letter
• New Jersey Security Deposit Return Letter
• New Mexico Security Deposit Return Letter
• New York Security Deposit Return Letter
• North Carolina Security Deposit Return Letter
• North Dakota Security Deposit Return Letter
• Ohio Security Deposit Return Letter
• Oklahoma Security Deposit Return Letter
• Oregon Security Deposit Return Letter
• Pennsylvania Security Deposit Return Letter
• Rhode Island Security Deposit Return Letter
• South Carolina Security Deposit Return Letter
• South Dakota Security Deposit Return Letter
• Tennessee Security Deposit Return Letter
• Texas Security Deposit Return Letter
• Utah Security Deposit Return Letter
• Vermont Security Deposit Return Letter
• Virginia Security Deposit Return Letter
• Washington Security Deposit Return Letter
• West Virginia Security Deposit Return Letter
• Wisconsin Security Deposit Return Letter
• Wyoming Security Deposit Return Letter