Hawaii Rent Increase Laws

Last Updated: January 3, 2024 by Jessica Menefee

Does Hawaii Have Rent Control Laws?

Hawaii does not have rent control laws limiting the amount that landlords may ask for rent and state law does not prohibit local governments from establishing rent control laws.

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When Can a Landlord Raise Rent in Hawaii?

Landlords in Hawaii can raise the rent at any time, as long as they comply with the following:

• Wait until the end of the lease term (unless otherwise specified in the lease)
• Give reasonable notice
• Aren’t raising rent for discriminatory or retaliatory reasons
• Don’t break any local rent control laws

When Can’t a Landlord Raise Rent in Hawaii?

Landlords in Hawaii may not raise the rent if:

• The increase is applied in a way that discriminates against one of the protected classes specified in the Fair Housing Act.
• It is during the middle of a lease’s fixed term (unless stated otherwise in the lease agreement).
• It is done in response to a protected tenant action, such as filing a complaint. This is known as “retaliation” [1].

How Often Can Rent Be Increased in Hawaii?

Landlords in Hawaii can increase the rent as often as they choose as long as they provide sufficient notice each time.

How Much Notice is Needed to Raise Rent in Hawaii?

In Hawaii, landlords cannot raise the rent during a lease term and must give 45 days’ notice to month-to-month tenants to increase the rent [3]. If the tenant is on a week-to-week lease, the landlord must give 15 days’ notice [4].

Landlords do not need to provide a reason for the rent increase on the notice letter. When the tenant receives the notice, they may choose to enter a new lease at a higher rate or move out.

How Much Can a Landlord Raise Rent in Hawaii?

In Hawaii, landlords can raise the rent by any amount and for any reason as long as they give proper notice, don’t do so during the fixed term of a lease, and aren’t doing so for certain discriminatory or retaliatory reasons.