Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions (OHHS)

The cost of rental application fees may pose a significant barrier to prospective tenants in Hawaii’s active rental housing market. Rental application fees are not currently regulated by Hawaii’s Landlord-Tenant Code, and landlords may require an upfront, non-refundable payment at the time a prospective renter applies for a vacant rental unit.  Unregulated collection of rental application fees may disproportionately impact low-income applicants, applicants who use housing vouchers, and multi-generational families with multiple adults in the household.

Please read the following policy briefing for more information, or visit https://homelessness.hawaii.gov/main/news-policybrief/ or e-mail [email protected].