Relationships between Rhode Island landlords and tenants begin when a landlord and renter sign a lease and are informed by statewide Landlord-Tenant Laws. A Rhode Island rental agreement becomes valid once your tenants pay rent in exchange for occupying a rental property.
Once the lease is valid, both parties obtain certain rights and responsibilities. As a landlord, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with these rights and responsibilities under the Rhode Island landlord-tenant laws. The following is a basic overview of Rhode Island Landlord-Tenant Law (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act Ch. 18-34).
Required Landlord Disclosures in Rhode Island
Rhode Island landlords must understand the following mandatory disclosures you must provide tenants before they begin renting your property.
- If your Rhode Island rental property was built prior to 1978, you must let your tenant know about any lead-based paint on the premises
- The names and addresses of the person(s) authorized to manage the unit.
- Any outstanding housing code violation.
Rhode Island Tenant Rights & Responsibilities
The following are some of the rights a Rhode Island tenant has. A tenant has the right to:
- Live in a habitable property.
- Continue occupying their rented premises until the legal eviction procedure is completed.
- Receive their security deposit refund within 20 days.
- Terminate their tenancy at any time as long as proper notice is served.
- Break the lease without penalty for specific legally justified reasons.
- Be treated fairly by their landlord as per the Fair Housing Act.
- Be served with a 30-day advance notice before a rent raise.
The responsibilities that Rhode Island tenants have include the following.
- Maintain the Rhode Island rental and keep it clean, habitable, and safe.
- Report maintenance issues to the landlord.
- Complete minor maintenance tasks, such as replacing a burnt-out bulb.
- Use all the appliances, fixtures, and facilities in the manner they are meant for.
- Care for the rental by not causing negligent or careless property damage.
- Respect others’ right to quiet enjoyment.
Rhode Island Landlord Rights & Responsibilities
The following are some of the fundamental responsibilities and rights. A right to:
- Collect rent as per the lease or rental agreement.
- Enforce the terms of the rental agreement, such as requiring the tenant to pay their rent.
- Evict a tenant for violating any terms of the lease agreement.
- Set and increase rent prices.
- Terminate a periodic lease.
- Enter a tenant’s rented unit.
Some of the responsibilities landlords have under the Rhode Island landlord-tenant laws include the following.
- Provide a habitable housing space.
- Follow the state of Rhode Island eviction laws when evicting a tenant for lease violations.
- Abide by the state’s security deposit rules.
- Serve proper notice before terminating a tenant’s periodic lease.
- Provide tenants with proper notice before a rent raise.
- Treat tenants fairly per the Fair Housing Act.
- Provide tenants with a 2-day notice prior to entering the rental unit. If a landlord fails to do so, it can be troublesome.
An Overview of Rhode Island Landlord-Tenant Rental Laws
Habitability
A Rhode Island tenant has a right to live in habitable housing. This means the landlord must ensure the rental has running hot and cold water and functional electrical, plumbing, and sanitation facilities.
They must also ensure that they make repairs within 20 days after notification from the tenant.
Tenant Eviction
Landlords in Rhode Island are able to evict tenants for a number of reasons. These include non-payment of rent, lease violations, or foreclosure of the rental.
However, landlords and tenants must follow proper eviction processes, which include serving a proper eviction notice and settling the issue in court if needed. Eviction methods like retaliatory evictions or “self-help” actions are illegal.
Security Deposit Rules
As a landlord, you have a right to collect a security deposit from your tenant. However, you have a responsibility to ensure its collection, handling, and return abides by the law on security deposits.
The following are some of the security deposit laws in Rhode Island.
- The maximum security deposit a landlord can charge a tenant must not exceed one month’s rent.
- Landlords must make deductions only for legitimate reasons, such as unpaid rent, cleaning costs, and damage exceeding normal wear and tear.
- Landlords must return the deposit within 20 days after the tenant moves out.
Rhode Island Lease Termination
Either the landlord or the tenant in a lease agreement can terminate a periodic lease. The only requirement is that the party wishing to terminate their lease serve the other party a proper notice.
The amount of notice to provide depends on the frequency of rent payments. If the rent is paid weekly, then a 10-day notice is mandatory. If the rent payments are monthly, then a 30-day notice is required.
Tenants in a fixed-term lease can also break their lease agreement under certain legally justified circumstances. These include starting active military duty or age-related health complications.
Rent Increases
There is no rent control law in Rhode Island. However, the Rhode Island law doesn’t prohibit local towns and cities from having their own rent control rules for landlords.
As such, Rhode Island landlords need to make sure to do their due diligence on what rent control law their municipality may have.
Bottom Line
It’s important that you familiarize yourself with the Rhode Island landlord-tenant law if renting out a property in any part of the state. If you have a question or need expert help in managing your rentals, contact the experts at the official Lyon Property Management page!
Disclaimer: This blog isn’t intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Rhode Island laws change and this information may become obsolete at the time you read it. For further help, please get in touch with a qualified attorney or an experienced property management company.
