SB2413

Report Title:

Landlord Tenant Code

 

Description:

Allows landlords 30 days rather than 14 days to return a tenant's security deposit.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2413
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to rental housing.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that it is difficult for landlords to access rental units to determine damages and formulate repair estimates within fourteen days of the tenant's termination of a rental agreement. A sufficient amount of time is needed by the landlord to access the dwelling, call for quotes from various vendors, and to schedule time for the repair or maintenance work.

The purpose of this Act is to allow more time for landlords to estimate damages by extending the fourteen mandatory days to thirty.

SECTION 2. Section 521-66, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§521-66[]] Tenant's right to refund of rent, etc., on termination; return of security deposit. When a tenant exercises a right to terminate the rental agreement pursuant to section 521-62, 521-63, or 521-65 the landlord shall return to the tenant, upon completion of repairs and maintenance authorized pursuant to section 521-54(a), but not later than [fourteen] thirty days after the termination, the amount of any advance rent paid apportionable to the remaining days of the term and the amount of any security deposit that the landlord is not authorized to retain pursuant to section 521-44. A return of advance rent or of a security deposit complies with the requirements of this section if it is mailed to the tenant, at an address supplied to the landlord by the tenant, by certified mail, return receipt requested, and postmarked before midnight of the [fourteenth] thirtieth day after the date of the termination of the rental agreement."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________