R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-18 § 34-18-17
Prohibited provisions in rental agreements
Operative Text
(a) A rental agreement may not provide that the tenant: (1) Agrees to waive or forego rights or remedies under this chapter; (2) Authorizes any person to confess judgment on a claim arising out of the rental agreement; (3) Agrees to pay the landlord's attorney's fees inconsistent with this chapter; or (4) Agrees to the exculpation or limitation of any liability of the landlord arising under law or to indemnify the landlord for that liability or the costs connected with the liability. (b) A provision prohibited by subsection (a) included in a rental agreement is unenforceable. If a landlord deliberately uses a rental agreement containing provisions known to be prohibited, the tenant may recover, in addition to his or her actual damages, an amount up to three (3) months periodic rent and reasonable attorney's fees.
Rhode Island General Laws § 34-18-17 prohibits rental agreements from containing certain clauses that would disadvantage tenants, including clauses that waive tenant rights under the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, authorize confessions of judgment, require tenants to pay landlord attorney's fees in ways inconsistent with the chapter, or shield landlords from their own legal liability. Any such clause included in a lease is automatically void and unenforceable. If a landlord knowingly and deliberately includes these prohibited terms, the tenant may be entitled to actual damages, up to three months' rent, and reasonable attorney's fees.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 34-18-17, compliant landlords review their lease templates carefully to ensure no clause attempts to strip tenants of statutory rights, requires tenants to indemnify the landlord against legal liability, or imposes attorney's fee obligations that conflict with Rhode Island law. Using a lease that contains these prohibited provisions exposes a landlord to enhanced liability beyond actual damages — up to three months' periodic rent plus attorney's fees — if the use is found to be deliberate. Property managers commonly work with legal counsel to audit standard lease forms and remove any language that runs afoul of this section before presenting agreements to prospective tenants.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 34-18-17 of Rhode Island's landlord-tenant law means that any lease clause purporting to make a tenant give up statutory rights, confess judgment, pay the landlord's attorney's fees improperly, or cover the landlord's legal liability is legally void from the outset — tenants are not bound by such terms even if they signed the lease. If a landlord is found to have deliberately included these prohibited clauses, tenants may have a claim for actual damages plus up to three months' rent and reasonable attorney's fees. Tenants who believe their lease contains provisions prohibited by § 34-18-17 may consider raising the issue as a defense in any landlord-initiated proceeding, filing a complaint with a relevant state or local housing authority, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for general information about available options.
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.
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