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Rent Regulations

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521 § 521-62

Tenant's remedy of termination at beginning of term.

In Force
Verified 10/23/2026 · Next check 10/30/2026
effective 10/23/2026HawaiiTenant Defenses

Operative Text

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521 § 521-62
If the landlord fails to conform to the rental agreement, or is in material noncompliance with section 521-42(a), the tenant may, on notice to the landlord, terminate the rental agreement and vacate the dwelling unit at any time during the first week of occupancy. The tenant shall retain such right to terminate beyond the first week of occupancy so long as the tenant remains in possession in reliance on a promise, whether written or oral, by the landlord to correct all or any part of the condition which would justify termination by the tenant under this section. [L 1972, c 132, pt of §1; gen ch 1985]
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 521-62, if a landlord fails to comply with the rental agreement or materially violates the habitability and maintenance standards set out in § 521-42(a), a tenant has the right to terminate the tenancy and vacate the unit during the first week of occupancy after giving the landlord notice. This early-termination right can extend beyond that first week if the tenant stays in the unit based on the landlord's promise—written or oral—to fix the problem that would otherwise justify termination. The provision is designed to give tenants a meaningful exit option when conditions at move-in do not match what was agreed upon or legally required.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 23, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Property owners and managers operating under § 521-62 generally ensure that a unit fully conforms to the rental agreement and meets the habitability standards of § 521-42(a) before a tenant takes possession, since deficiencies at move-in can trigger an immediate termination right. Operators who make verbal or written promises to correct conditions should be aware that such promises can extend the tenant's termination window beyond the initial seven-day period. Maintaining thorough move-in documentation and promptly addressing any reported deficiencies are practices commonly associated with compliance under this provision.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Hawaii Revised Statutes § 521-62 gives tenants the right to terminate a rental agreement and vacate during the first week of occupancy if the landlord has not met the terms of the rental agreement or has materially failed to comply with § 521-42(a), provided the tenant gives the landlord notice. Importantly, if a landlord promises to fix the problem and the tenant stays in reliance on that promise, the right to terminate does not automatically expire after the first week. Tenants who believe this provision applies to their situation may wish to document conditions and any landlord promises in writing, and can explore options through a local tenant-rights organization or Hawaii's state housing resources.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated October 23, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 23, 2026
Click on timeline segments to view historical versions.

References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-42

References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-51
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-71
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-42
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-51
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-52
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-70
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-70
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-42
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-42
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-62
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-43
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-51
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-53
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-52
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-72
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-52
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-51
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-53
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-63
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-42
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-51
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-80
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-80
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-51
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-68
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-71
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44

Related Rules

§ 8A
Rent withholding; grounds; amount claimed; presumptions and burden of proof; procedures
§ 47a-14c
(Formerly Sec. 19-347m). Tenement receivership: Defense.
§ 47a-14e
(Formerly Sec. 19-347o). Tenement receivership: Owner's right to collect rent moneys.

Source Information

Source:https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol12_Ch0501-0588/HRS0521/HRS_0521-0062.htm
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