What are the laws governing the inspection of rental units?

In Hawaii, landlords must abide by state laws governing the inspection of rental units. This includes the landlord’s right to inspect the premises and the tenant’s right to privacy. According to Hawaii Landlord-Tenant Code Section 521-45, landlords are entitled to inspect the rental unit prior to occupancy, during occupancy, and upon termination of the tenancy. Prior to occupancy, the landlord needs to provide the tenant with written notification of the details and timing of the inspection, including access to the rental unit. After the tenant has occupied the rental unit, the landlord is only allowed to inspect it on limited occasions. The landlord must still provide written notice of the inspection and must have “reasonable cause” to inspect. This means there must be a legitimate reason for the inspection, such as suspicion of illegal activity, potential damage, or a need for the landlord to access a portion of the residence to make repairs. Upon termination of the tenancy, the landlord must provide the tenant with written notification of the details and timing of the inspection. The inspection must be conducted in the presence of the tenant, and any damages not caused by the tenant must be noted on the inspection report. Overall, the landlord and tenant should both be aware of the Hawaiian laws governing the inspection of rental units. Both parties must abide by the written notifications provided, and the landlord should only attempt to inspect the rental unit when there is legitimate cause to do so.

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