R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-18 § 34-18-61
Convenience fees prohibited
Operative Text
(a) A landlord shall not charge a convenience fee to a tenant's rental payment. (b) Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to any landlord that accepts a form of payment of rent that does not require a convenience fee for such payment.
Rhode Island General Laws § 34-18-61 prohibits landlords from adding a convenience fee on top of a tenant's rent payment. However, this prohibition applies only when the landlord does not offer at least one payment method that is free of any convenience fee. In other words, if a landlord provides a no-fee payment option, they may still charge fees on other optional payment methods.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 34-18-61, Rhode Island property owners and managers who collect rent must ensure that at least one accepted payment method carries no convenience fee. Compliant operators typically offer a fee-free option — such as check, money order, or direct bank transfer — alongside any other payment channels that may involve processing costs. Operators who charge convenience fees across all available payment methods, without offering a free alternative, risk being in violation of this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 34-18-61 of Rhode Island law gives tenants the right to make rent payments without being charged a convenience fee, provided the landlord does not already offer a free payment method. If a tenant believes their landlord is charging convenience fees on all payment options without offering a no-cost alternative, they may consider documenting the fee structure and reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or the Rhode Island courts for guidance on how to raise this as a potential violation.
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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