State legislature must do more to protect Hawaiʻi’s vulnerable, struggling renters
Our existing statutes don’t do nearly enough to keep renters stable in an unstable housing market; yet, year after year, the legislature has punted the issue down the road.
HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi — Two-fifths (38 percent) of Hawaiʻi households rent the homes in which they live. Renters tend to be lower on the income scale, and often work multiple jobs to support their families and keep a roof over their heads. They are usually the ones to feel the crunch of Hawaiʻi’s housing market most acutely, and this added stress can have serious repercussions on health and future earnings.
“Our existing statutes don’t do enough to protect Hawaiʻi renters from displacement and instability,” said Arjuna Heim, Hawaiʻi Appleseed Director of Housing Policy. “Renter instability has serious impacts on our local workforce and economy, catalyzing all sorts of quality of life problems for residents—from cost of living struggles, to health, to safety and job security. Yet, too often the needs of renters are sidelined at the Hawaiʻi State Legislature.”
In the last five years, bills aimed at increasing the supply of housing through new development have received strong support and seen passage into law. Hawaiʻi Appleseed research shows that, with the exception of a pair of Covid-era emergency measures, the legislature has failed to pass any bills specifically targeting assistance to stabilize renters and keep them housed.
Hawaiʻi lacks a just-cause eviction requirement, provides insufficient rental support, and requires no advance notice of lease non-renewal or rent increases. Hawaiʻi provides no incentives for landlords and tenants to engage in mediation, and there is no effective enforcement mechanism for landlord violations of the landlord-tenant code.
The absence of a right to counsel perpetuates the power imbalance between landlord and tenant. Tenants without legal representation face significant challenges in contesting illegal evictions or displacement.
To address these challenges, our latest policy brief, “Renters left behind at the Hawaiʻi State Legislature,” recommends the state adopt a comprehensive set of renter protections that include:
Implementing just-cause eviction requirements;
Providing legal counsel for tenants;
Offering sufficient, accessible rental support;
Mandating a 60 day minimum advance notice for lease non-renewal or rent increases; and
Creating enforcement mechanisms for landlord-tenant code violations.
Download the brief here.
