R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 31-44 § 31-44-9.1
Remedies
Operative Text
In addition to any other remedy authorized by law, equity or regulation, the director of the department may order, following notice and opportunity to be heard, the owner and residents of any mobile and manufactured home park to pay monthly rents directly to an interest bearing escrow account established by and under the control of, the director and may make the payment of those amounts to the owner of the mobile and manufactured home park contingent on the owner's submission of satisfactory evidence of compliance with all orders of the director. Upon submission of evidence of compliance, the director shall promptly cause any escrowed rents to be paid to the owner.
Under Rhode Island General Laws § 31-44-9.1, the director of the relevant state department has authority to redirect rent payments away from a mobile or manufactured home park owner and into an interest-bearing escrow account. This remedy is available in addition to any other legal or equitable remedies and can only be imposed after the owner has received notice and a chance to be heard. Escrowed funds are released to the owner only once the director receives satisfactory evidence that the owner has complied with all outstanding orders.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Rhode Island General Laws § 31-44-9.1 makes clear that a park owner who has unresolved compliance orders from the director faces the possibility of having resident rent payments redirected into a state-controlled escrow account rather than paid directly to the owner. Operators who maintain documented, ongoing compliance with all director orders are best positioned to avoid or quickly resolve such an escrow arrangement. When an escrow is in place, the director is required to release the funds promptly upon the owner's submission of satisfactory compliance evidence.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 31-44-9.1 of the Rhode Island General Laws, residents of a mobile or manufactured home park may be directed by the state department's director to pay their monthly rent into an interest-bearing escrow account rather than to the park owner, serving as a mechanism to encourage owner compliance with regulatory orders. This provision can function as a meaningful enforcement tool when a park owner has failed to meet the director's requirements. Tenants who believe their park owner is out of compliance with state orders may wish to contact a tenant-rights organization or the relevant Rhode Island state agency to understand what options exist under this provision.
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 Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation