R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-18 § 34-18-52
Payment of rent during pendency of appeal
Operative Text
Whenever an action for the recovery of real property is pending on appeal in the superior or supreme court, the tenant in the action shall pay to the landlord sums of money equal to the rent for the premises, which the sums shall be paid at such times and in such amounts as rent would be due and payable were the action not then pending. The acceptance of these sums shall not constitute a waiver of the right of the landlord to obtain possession of the premises, nor shall their receipt be deemed to reinstate the tenancy.
Under Rhode Island General Laws § 34-18-52, when a landlord's action to recover possession of rental property is being appealed in superior or supreme court, the tenant is still required to continue making payments equal to the regular rent amount, on the same schedule those payments would have been due if no appeal were pending. Critically, a landlord's acceptance of these ongoing payments does not waive their right to ultimately regain possession of the property, and receiving the payments does not legally revive or reinstate the tenancy. The provision essentially keeps the financial obligations of the rental relationship in place during the appellate process, even though the underlying tenancy may be legally terminated.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 34-18-52, compliant operators in Rhode Island continue to accept rent-equivalent payments from tenants during the pendency of an appeal without concern that doing so will undermine their eviction case. The statute explicitly protects landlords by clarifying that accepting these sums is not a waiver of the right to possession and does not reinstate the tenancy. Property managers generally document these payments carefully and separately to maintain a clear record that distinguishes them from ordinary rent payments under an active tenancy.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Rhode Island General Laws § 34-18-52 establishes that tenants involved in an ongoing appeal of a possession action are still obligated to make payments equal to their regular rent on the usual schedule throughout the appeal. Tenants should be aware that making these payments does not legally restore the tenancy or create new tenancy rights, even if the landlord accepts them. Those with questions about how this obligation interacts with their specific appeal may benefit from consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Rhode Island housing law.
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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