HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1376 |
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
H.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Section 521-68, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§521-68 Landlord's remedies for
failure by tenant to pay rent.
(a) A landlord or the landlord's
agent may, any time after rent is due, demand payment thereof and notify the
tenant in writing that unless payment is made within a time mentioned in the notice[,]
as provided in subsection (b), not less than [five business] fifteen
calendar days after receipt thereof, the rental agreement will be
terminated. If the tenant cannot be
served with notice as required, notice may be given the tenant by posting the
same in a conspicuous place on the dwelling unit[.] and the notice will
be deemed received on the date of posting. If the tenant remains in default, the landlord
may thereafter bring a summary proceeding for possession of the dwelling unit
or any other proper proceeding, action, or suit for possession[.], subject
to subsections (b) through (h). The notice
required in this section need not be given if the action is based on the breach
of a mediated agreement or other settlement agreement.
(b) The fifteen calendar day notice shall provide the
following:
(1) The name of the landlord or the landlord's agent and the landlord or landlord's agent's contact information, including, if possible, phone number, electronic mail address, and mailing address;
(2) The name and contact information of each tenant, including, if possible, phone number, electronic mail address, and mailing address;
(3) The monthly rental rate for the dwelling unit;
(4) The current amount of the rent due as of the date of the notice, including all rent paid from all sources;
(5) Whether the landlord or landlord's agent has applied for rental assistance or been contacted on behalf of the tenant by any agency providing rental assistance;
(6) That any rental assistance received by the landlord or landlord's agent has been credited to the tenant's account;
(7) That a copy of the fifteen calendar day notice shall be provided to the appropriate mediation center in accordance with subsection (d) in order for the mediation center to contact the landlord and tenant to attempt to schedule a mediation;
(8) That the mediation center will provide proof to the landlord that the notice was received and confirmation of the scheduled date of mediation;
(9) That the landlord or landlord's agent may file an action for summary possession if the rent due is not paid and if mediation is not scheduled within fifteen calendar days, regardless of whether the scheduled mediation session occurs within the fifteen calendar days, after receipt of the fifteen calendar day notice;
(10) A warning in bold
typeface print that:
(A) If mediation is not scheduled within fifteen calendar days after receipt of the notice, regardless of whether the scheduled mediation session occurs within the fifteen calendar day period, then the landlord may file an action for summary possession after the expiration of the fifteen calendar day period;
(B) If mediation is scheduled before the expiration of the fifteen calendar day period, regardless of whether the scheduled mediation session occurs within the fifteen calendar day period, then the landlord cannot file an action for summary possession until thirty calendar days after receipt of the fifteen calendar day notice; and
(C) If
the fifteen calendar day notice is mailed, receipt of notice shall be deemed to
be two days after the date of the postmark;
(11) Notice that the eviction may be subject to additional requirements and protections under state or federal law and that the tenant should seek the tenant's own legal advice; and
(12) That the landlord
or landlord's agent shall engage in mediation if mediation is scheduled.
If the fifteen calendar day notice is mailed, receipt
of the notice shall be deemed to be two days after the date of the postmark.
(c) The fifteen calendar day notice required under this section may be substantially in the following form:
"I, ____________________, am
the landlord or landlord's agent for the property at ____________________ and the
contact information of the landlord or landlord's agent is: ____________________.
The tenant(s) are: ____________________
and the contact information of the tenant(s) is: ____________________.
Under the terms of the lease for the
property, you are obligated to pay rent of $____________________ per ____________________.
The current amount of rent due as
of the date of this notice is $____________________.
I applied to, or was notified that
you applied to, ____________________ (names of programs or agencies) for rental
assistance with respect to rent. Any rental
assistance received has already been included in calculating the amount stated in
the preceding sentence.
As required under section 521-68,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, this notice is also being sent to ____________________
(appropriate mediation center) and they will contact you to schedule mediation regarding
the nonpayment of rent. You may also contact
this mediation center to schedule mediation and the contact information of the mediation
center is: ____________________.
IF MEDIATION IS NOT SCHEDULED WITHIN
FIFTEEN (15) CALENDAR DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF THIS NOTICE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE
SCHEDULED MEDIATION SESSION OCCURS WITHIN THE FIFTEEN (15) CALENDAR DAY PERIOD,
THEN THE LANDLORD MAY FILE AN ACTION FOR SUMMARY POSSESSION AFTER THE EXPIRATION
OF THE FIFTEEN (15) CALENDAR DAY PERIOD. HOWEVER, IF YOU DO SCHEDULE MEDIATION BEFORE THE
EXPIRATION OF THE FIFTEEN (15) CALENDAR DAY PERIOD, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE SCHEDULED
MEDIATION SESSION OCCURS WITHIN THE FIFTEEN (15) CALENDAR DAY PERIOD, THEN THE LANDLORD
MAY NOT FILE AN ACTION FOR SUMMARY POSSESSION UNTIL THE EXPIRATION OF THIRTY (30)
CALENDAR DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF THIS NOTICE. IF THIS FIFTEEN (15) CALENDAR DAY NOTICE IS MAILED,
THE RECEIPT OF THE NOTICE IS DEEMED TO HAVE OCCURRED TWO DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF
THE POSTMARK. IF THIS NOTICE WAS POSTED ON
YOUR PREMISES, RECEIPT IS DEEMED TO HAVE OCCURRED ON THE DATE OF POSTING.
If we reach an agreement before the
filing of an action for summary possession, whether through mediation or otherwise,
then I will not bring an action for summary possession against you, except as provided
in any agreement we may reach. I will be
required to note the status of our mediation or settlement effort and proof of my
sending this notice to the mediation center in the action for summary possession.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WE MAY BOTH BE
SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL STATE OR FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS OR PROGRAMS REGARDING EVICTION
AT THE TIME OF THIS NOTICE. YOU ARE ENCOURAGED
TO SEEK YOUR OWN LEGAL ADVICE AS TO YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
As landlord, I must engage in mediation
with you, if you choose to schedule mediation.
(Date of notice and signature)"
(d) Landlords or their agents shall provide the fifteen calendar day notice to mediation centers that offer free mediation for residential landlord-tenant matters. The mediation center shall contact the landlord or landlord's agent and the tenant to schedule the mediation. If a tenant schedules mediation within the fifteen calendar day period, regardless of whether the scheduled mediation session occurs within the fifteen day period, the landlord shall not file a summary proceeding for possession until the expiration of thirty calendar days from the date of receipt of the notice. If the tenant schedules mediation, the landlord shall participate.
(e) The summary possession complaint for nonpayment of rent shall include:
(1) A document from
the mediation center verifying that shows proof that the landlord provided a copy
of the fifteen-calendar day notice to the mediation center;
(2) A statement as to whether the landlord or landlord's agent and tenant have participated in, or will participate in, any scheduled mediation; and
(3) If mediation is pending, the date on which the mediation is scheduled.
(f) If the mediation has not occurred or been scheduled
for a future date, as of the return hearing date on the summary possession complaint,
the court may, in its discretion, based on a finding of good cause, order a separate
mediation.
(g) If there is any defect in the fifteen calendar
day notice provided by the landlord that is not intentional or the court determines
the defect is not material, the court may allow the landlord to cure the defect
without dismissing the action for summary possession.
(h) No landlord may bring a summary proceeding for
possession for a tenant's failure to pay rent except pursuant to this section and
as follows:
(1) Beginning on the first day after the expiration date of the final eviction moratorium imposed pursuant to a state of emergency proclamation related to the COVID‑19 emergency issued by the governor through the thirtieth day after the expiration date, the rent due shall be equal to or greater than four months' rent;
(2) Beginning on the thirty-first day after the expiration date of the final eviction moratorium through the ninety-first day after the expiration date, the rent due shall be equal to or greater than three months' rent;
(3) Beginning on the ninety-second day after the expiration date of the final eviction moratorium through the one hundred fifty-second day after the expiration date, the rent due shall be equal to or greater than two months' rent; and
(4) Beginning on the one hundred fifty-third day after the expiration date of the final eviction moratorium through the three hundred sixty-fifth day after the expiration date, the rent due shall be equal to or greater than one month rent.
[(b)] (i) A landlord or the landlord's agent may bring
an action for rent alone at any time after the landlord has demanded payment of
past due rent and notified the tenant of the landlord's intention to bring such
an action."
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2021-2022 and the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the judiciary to contract for mediation services required by this Act.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the judiciary for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date; provided that any contract in effect prior to the effective date of this Act that is subsequently renewed or extended on or after the effective date of this Act shall comply with the requirements of this Act.
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2050; provided that this Act shall be repealed one year after the expiration date of the final eviction moratorium imposed pursuant to a state of emergency proclamation related to the COVID‑19 pandemic and issued by the governor and section 521-68, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which it read on the day prior to the effective date of this Act.
Report Title:
Housing; Landlord-Tenant Code; Remedies; Notice; Failure to Pay Rent; Appropriation
Description:
Extends the period for a notice of summary possession from five days to fifteen. Requires landlords to enter into mediation and delays when a landlord may seek possession of a dwelling unit if the tenant schedules or attempts to schedule mediation. Requires landlords to provide the notice to mediation centers that offer free mediation for residential landlord-tenant disputes. Restricts when a landlord may exercise these remedies depending on the amount of rent due. Appropriates funds for the judiciary to contract for mediation services. Repeals one year after the expiration date of the final eviction moratorium imposed pursuant to a COVID-19 state of emergency proclamation. Effective 1/1/2050. (HD2)
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