R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-18 § 34-18-30
Self-help for limited repairs
Operative Text
(a) If the landlord fails to comply with § 34-18-22(a)(1), (2), (4), (5), or (6), and the reasonable cost of compliance is less than five hundred dollars ($500) in the aggregate per year, the tenant may cause repairs to be done in a skilled manner, in compliance with applicable state and local codes, and deduct from the tenant's rent the actual and reasonable cost or the fair and reasonable value of the repairs if: (1) The tenant notifies the landlord of the tenant's intention to correct the condition at the landlord's expense; and (2) The landlord fails to comply within twenty (20) days, or fails to demonstrate ongoing, good faith efforts to comply, after being notified by the tenant in writing; or, in the case of emergency, the landlord either cannot be reached by the tenant, or the landlord fails to comply as promptly as conditions require; and (3) The tenant submits an itemized statement to the landlord of the cost or the fair and reasonable value of the repairs made. (b) A tenant may not repair at the landlord's expense if the condition was caused by the deliberate or negligent act or omission of the tenant, a member of the tenant's family, or other person on the premises with the tenant's consent.
Rhode Island General Laws § 34-18-30 establishes a limited 'repair-and-deduct' remedy in residential tenancies. When a landlord fails to maintain certain habitability conditions listed in § 34-18-22(a)(1), (2), (4), (5), or (6), and the total repair cost stays under $500 per year, a tenant may arrange for skilled repairs and subtract the actual, reasonable cost from rent—provided specific notice and documentation steps are followed. This remedy is unavailable when the condition needing repair was caused by the tenant, a household member, or a guest.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 34-18-30, a landlord who receives written notice of a habitability deficiency covered by § 34-18-22(a)(1), (2), (4), (5), or (6) generally has twenty days to complete repairs or demonstrate ongoing, good-faith compliance efforts before a tenant may invoke the repair-and-deduct remedy. Operators who maintain documented repair logs, respond promptly to written notices, and communicate progress to tenants are in a stronger position to show good-faith compliance. Keeping records of any tenant-caused damage is also relevant, since § 34-18-30(b) bars the remedy when the condition results from the tenant's or a guest's deliberate or negligent conduct.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 34-18-30 of Rhode Island's landlord-tenant law gives residential tenants a self-help repair option when a landlord neglects specific habitability duties and the fix costs less than $500 in the aggregate per year. To use this remedy, a tenant generally must provide written notice of the problem, allow the landlord twenty days to respond (or act sooner in a genuine emergency), arrange for the work to be done in a skilled, code-compliant manner, and submit an itemized statement of costs to the landlord before or when deducting from rent. Tenants who believe this remedy applies to their situation may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Rhode Island housing law for general information about how § 34-18-30 is applied.
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