Hawaii Landlord Selling the House
Hawaii rules on landlord selling the house for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: When a landlord sells or otherwise transfers a rental, the buyer becomes liable under the existing rental agreement and the Landlord-Tenant Code. HRS §§ 521-44(f), 521-45(a)-(b)
The rules in Hawaii
| If the landlord sells the property | When a landlord sells or otherwise transfers a rental, the buyer becomes liable under the existing rental agreement and the Landlord-Tenant Code. The original landlord must give the new owner an accounting of the security deposits, and the new owner must notify each tenant in writing within 20 days of the deposit amount credited to that tenant. If the new owner fails to do so, the tenant is presumed to have paid a deposit of at least one month's rent at the rate charged when the tenant first moved in. A selling landlord is released from liability for events after the sale only if the sale is in good faith to an unrelated buyer and the release is disclosed in writing in the sale contract (§ 521-45(a); https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol12_Ch0501-0588/HRS0521/HRS_0521-0045.htm). Source: HRS §§ 521-44(f), 521-45(a)-(b) |
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Related questions
Hawaii vs. neighboring states
| State | If the landlord sells the property | Tenants in foreclosure |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | When a landlord sells or otherwise transfers a rental, the buyer becomes liable under the existing rental agreement and the Landlord-Tenant Code. The original landlord must give the new owner an accounting of the security deposits, and the new owner must notify each tenant in writing within 20 days of the deposit amount credited to that tenant. If the new owner fails to do so, the tenant is presumed to have paid a deposit of at least one month's rent at the rate charged when the tenant first moved in. HRS §§ 521-44(f), 521-45(a)-(b) | Not verified yet |
| California | If a landlord voluntarily sells the rental, the tenants' rights do not change: a tenant with a lease can stay to the end of it on the same terms, and a new owner can end a month-to-month tenancy only as the law allows (just cause may be required under the Tenant Protection Act or local rules). The selling landlord must either transfer the deposits (less lawful deductions) to the buyer or return them to the tenants with an itemized statement, and must notify each tenant in writing, by first-class mail or personal delivery, of the transfer, any deductions, the amount transferred, and the new landlord's name, address and phone number. If the seller does neither, both the seller and the new landlord are responsible for the deposits, and the new landlord may not charge current tenants a new deposit just to make up for deposits it failed to get from the seller. Cal. Dept. of Real Estate, California Tenants: A Guide to Residential Tenants' and Landlords' Rights and Responsibilities (2026 ed.) | When a rental is sold at foreclosure, a month-to-month or periodic tenant must get 90 days' written notice to quit before being removed. A tenant with a fixed-term lease signed before the sale may stay until the lease ends, and the lease survives the sale. The new owner may end it early with 90 days' notice only if: the buyer will live in the unit as a primary residence; the tenant is the borrower or the borrower's spouse, child or parent; the lease was not an arm's-length deal; or the rent is far below market (unless subsidized). The buyer must prove that an exception applies. Local just-cause ordinances still apply. When a sale is noticed, the trustee must post on the property, and mail to 'Resident', a statutory notice telling tenants about these rights. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1161b; Cal. Civ. Code § 2924.8 |
City rules that may add to state law
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Hawaii Landlord Selling the House FAQ
What happens to my lease if my landlord sells the house in Hawaii?
When a landlord sells or otherwise transfers a rental, the buyer becomes liable under the existing rental agreement and the Landlord-Tenant Code. The original landlord must give the new owner an accounting of the security deposits, and the new owner must notify each tenant in writing within 20 days of the deposit amount credited to that tenant. If the new owner fails to do so, the tenant is presumed to have paid a deposit of at least one month's rent at the rate charged when the tenant first moved in. (HRS §§ 521-44(f), 521-45(a)-(b))
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.