Rhode Island rental housing laws

What it would do: Amends the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to allow courts to seal eviction records when dismissed for defective complaint or lack of jurisdiction, and permits sealing a person's association with an eviction record if they were between 18 and 21 years old and not financially responsible for rent.

What it would do: Requires landlords to provide a receipt to tenants when receiving cash rent payments, indicating the amount paid, payment date, names of landlord and tenant, and who accepted the payment.

What it would do: Amends the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to allow sealing of eviction records when dismissed for defective complaint or lack of jurisdiction, and requires sealing of any minor named in eviction proceedings, with such sealings not counting against the one-record-per-five-years sealing limit.

What it would do: Requires housing code enforcement officers to serve notice of violations on affected residents by certified mail or in person, and to notify tenant-occupants of all hearings pertaining to violations in their dwelling or unit.

What it would do: Amends the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to allow courts to seal eviction records in additional circumstances: when dismissed for defective complaint or lack of jurisdiction, when a tenant prevails, and when minors or individuals aged 18-21 who did not execute the lease are named in the proceeding.

What it would do: Limits annual rent increases to 4% during private residential tenancies after the first year, with exemptions for necessary repairs, tax/insurance increases, or secretary of housing approval. Provides tenants civil remedies including 3 months' rent damages, attorney fees, and punitive damages for violations.

What it would do: Requires landlords to notify tenants within 30 days of receiving housing code violations and to disclose outstanding violations before entering rental agreements. Allows tenants to deposit rent into escrow upon a second notice of violation until corrections are made.

What it would do: Amends the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to establish standardized notice and complaint forms for eviction proceedings, tenant defenses, and a new form for tenants to notify landlords of intent to repair and deduct costs from rent.

What it would do: Amends retaliatory conduct protections for tenants and establishes a statewide rental registry requiring landlords of pre-1978 residential properties to register with the department of health and provide lead hazard mitigation certificates, with registration deadline of October 1, 2026.

What it would do: Prohibits landlords from evicting tenants from housing accommodations except for good cause, including nonpayment of rent, substantial lease violations, nuisance, illegal activity, or landlord's personal use in buildings with fewer than twelve units, and voids any lease provisions waiving these protections.

What it would do: Prohibits housing providers from inquiring about criminal records before making a conditional offer, restricts consideration to certain crimes within ten years, requires written disclosure and individualized assessment, and imposes civil penalties up to $10,000 for violations.

What it would do: Creates a civil right to legal representation for eligible low-income tenants in eviction proceedings and establishes a Division of Civil Representation within the Department of Housing to provide legal services through designated legal organizations and community education programs.

What it would do: Requires landlords of six or more dwelling units to deposit tenants' security deposits in interest-bearing federally insured accounts and return accrued interest to tenants within twenty days of tenancy termination, after deducting itemized allowable deductions.

What it would do: Prohibits any city or town that adopts an ordinance limiting rent increases on rental units from increasing property tax rates or reassessing property values on those affected rental units for as long as the rent control ordinance remains in effect.

What it would do: Requires short-term rental properties listed on hosting platforms to register with the department of business regulation and display registration numbers on listings. Owner-occupied primary residences are taxed as residential property while non-owner-occupied rentals are taxed as commercial property.

What it would do: Prohibits housing owners and agents from inquiring about or discriminating based on an applicant's prior incarceration status, and prohibits inquiring about an applicant's former address of residence.

What it would do: Requires landlords to disclose all fees, utility costs, and renters insurance requirements in writing; allows tenants 65+ to terminate leases for residential care facilities with 45 days notice; permits servicemembers to terminate leases with military orders; requires landlords to provide complete signed lease copies for mobile homes within 10 days effective January 1, 2027.

What it would do: Requires landlords leasing residential properties built before 1978 to register with the department of health by October 1, 2024, providing contact information and lead hazard certificates, with civil fines of $50-$125 monthly for non-compliance and prohibition on eviction actions for non-registered landlords.

What it would do: Amends the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to permit tenants to implement energy conservation measures at their own expense, including removable weather-stripping, removable interior storm windows, and insulation wrap around hot water heating tanks, without authorizing structural changes.

What it would do: Creates the Bed Bugs in Residential Premises Act requiring landlords to inspect and treat bed bugs within 96 hours of notice, at landlord expense, while tenants must notify landlords promptly and comply with reasonable inspection and treatment measures.

What it would do: Prohibits landlords from considering credit history older than three years when evaluating rental applications and requires written denial notices within 20 days if denied based on credit history. Establishes civil penalties up to $1,000 for first violations, $5,000 for second, and $10,000 for subsequent violations.

What it would do: Prohibits landlords from using algorithmic devices incorporating nonpublic competitor data to determine or adjust residential rent amounts, effective January 1, 2027, with exemptions for federal/state housing programs, aggregate market reporting, and internal accounting systems.

What it would do: Increases notice period for terminating month-to-month tenancies from 30 to 60 days, or 120 days for tenants aged 62 or older. Amends the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act notice and complaint forms accordingly.

What it would do: Allows parties to file motions to seal court records in residential landlord-tenant actions under sections 34-18-35, 34-18-36, and 34-18-38 at least thirty days after the appeal period expires, upon meeting specified conditions including dismissal, stipulation satisfaction, or judgment payment.