Last reviewed September 2026
Written by LawLease Editorial
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Hawaii Sublease Agreement
This Sublease 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 Sublease 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 Roommate Agreement
- Hawaii Spanish Lease Agreement
- Hawaii Lease Amendment
Sublease Agreement in other states
- Alabama Sublease Agreement
- Alaska Sublease Agreement
- Arizona Sublease Agreement
- Arkansas Sublease Agreement
- California Sublease Agreement
- Colorado Sublease Agreement
- Connecticut Sublease Agreement
- Delaware Sublease Agreement
- Florida Sublease Agreement
- Georgia Sublease Agreement
- Idaho Sublease Agreement
- Illinois Sublease Agreement
- Indiana Sublease Agreement
- Iowa Sublease Agreement
- Kansas Sublease Agreement
- Kentucky Sublease Agreement
- Louisiana Sublease Agreement
- Maine Sublease Agreement
- Maryland Sublease Agreement
- Massachusetts Sublease Agreement
- Michigan Sublease Agreement
- Minnesota Sublease Agreement
- Mississippi Sublease Agreement
- Missouri Sublease Agreement
- Montana Sublease Agreement
- Nebraska Sublease Agreement
- Nevada Sublease Agreement
- New Hampshire Sublease Agreement
- New Jersey Sublease Agreement
- New Mexico Sublease Agreement
- New York Sublease Agreement
- North Carolina Sublease Agreement
- North Dakota Sublease Agreement
- Ohio Sublease Agreement
- Oklahoma Sublease Agreement
- Oregon Sublease Agreement
- Pennsylvania Sublease Agreement
- Rhode Island Sublease Agreement
- South Carolina Sublease Agreement
- South Dakota Sublease Agreement
- Tennessee Sublease Agreement
- Texas Sublease Agreement
- Utah Sublease Agreement
- Vermont Sublease Agreement
- Virginia Sublease Agreement
- Washington Sublease Agreement
- West Virginia Sublease Agreement
- Wisconsin Sublease Agreement
- Wyoming Sublease Agreement
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