R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 31-44 § 31-44-8
Notice required by law
Operative Text
The following notice must be given by the licensee to the tenant prior to occupancy: "The terms of your tenancy must be in accordance with the Rhode Island Mobile and Manufactured Home Act, title 31, chapter 44. Section 31-44-3 requires all the rules and regulations governing your tenancy to be fair and reasonable. Unreasonable rules, or those not in compliance with § 31-44-3, cannot be enforced against you. "No licensee may offer a mobile and manufactured home or a mobile and manufactured home space or lot for rent without showing to the prospective resident a copy of the written lease before the resident occupies that mobile and manufactured home space or lot. No licensee may rent a mobile and manufactured home or mobile and manufactured home space or lot until a written lease has been signed by the resident and the owner. The term of the lease shall not be less than one year unless the resident requests, in writing, a term for less than one year, or requests in writing that he or she does not desire a written lease. "The licensee of this park shall not require you to deal exclusively with a certain fuel dealer or other merchant for goods or services in connection with the use or occupancy of your mobile and manufactured home lot unless that restriction is necessary to protect the health, safety, or welfare of mobile and manufactured home residents in the park. If you are required to deal with a certain dealer or merchant, the price you pay for such goods or services may not be more than the prevailing price in this locality for similar goods and services. "An increase in fees or rent, nonrenewal of lease, refusal to offer a lease, or termination of tenancy which is taken against you by a licensee as a penalty for reporting a violation of the Mobile and Manufactured Home Act or of any applicable building or health code, or for any other justified complaint to a governmental authority is a reprisal and is prohibited by law."
Section 31-44-8 of the Rhode Island General Laws requires that before a tenant moves into a mobile or manufactured home park, the park licensee must provide a written notice covering several key protections. The notice informs prospective residents that all park rules must be fair and reasonable under the Mobile and Manufactured Home Act, that a written lease of at least one year is generally required before occupancy, and that tenants cannot be forced to use a specific fuel dealer or merchant unless health, safety, or welfare concerns justify it. The notice also makes clear that retaliatory actions—such as rent increases, lease nonrenewal, or eviction taken in response to a tenant's complaint to a government authority—are prohibited by law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 31-44-8, a compliant park licensee delivers the full statutory notice to every prospective resident before occupancy begins, ensuring the document covers all four required topics: the fairness standard for park rules, the written-lease requirement, restrictions on exclusive-dealer mandates, and the prohibition on retaliation. Operators generally maintain records showing that the notice was provided and acknowledged prior to move-in, and they ensure that any exclusive-dealer arrangements in place can be justified on health, safety, or welfare grounds and that prices charged do not exceed prevailing local rates. Keeping lease execution and notice delivery procedures well-documented helps demonstrate ongoing compliance with the Rhode Island Mobile and Manufactured Home Act.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 31-44-8 gives mobile and manufactured home park residents the right to receive a written notice of their core legal protections before they ever move in, including the right to a written lease, protection from unreasonable park rules, freedom from unjustified exclusive-dealer requirements, and protection against retaliatory rent increases or eviction. If a licensee failed to provide this notice, or if any of the conditions described in it are being violated, tenants may raise those violations as a defense in a legal proceeding or file a complaint with the appropriate Rhode Island governmental authority. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with the Rhode Island Mobile and Manufactured Home Act can help residents understand the general enforcement paths available under ch. 31-44.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation