R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-18 § 34-18-8
Exclusions from application of chapter
Operative Text
Unless the parties expressly agree to be governed by the provisions of this chapter, the following arrangements are not governed by this chapter: (1) Residence at an institution, public or private, if incidental to detention or the provision of medical, geriatric, educational, counseling, religious, or similar service; (2) Occupancy under a contract of sale of a dwelling unit or the property of which it is a part, if the occupant is the purchaser or a person who succeeds to his or her interest; (3) Occupancy by a member of a fraternal or social organization in the portion of a structure operated for the benefit of the organization; (4) Transient occupancy in a hotel, motel, or other lodging as defined under § 44-18-7(11), which is subject to the state sales and use tax, or lodgings tax as allowed by state enabling legislation; (5) Occupancy by a paid employee of a landlord, whose right to occupancy is conditional upon employment substantially for services, maintenance, or repair of premises containing more than eleven (11) units; (6) Occupancy by a holder of a proprietary lease in a cooperative; (7) Commercial letting and any other estate governed by chapter 18.1 of this title; (8) Residence at a transitional housing facility.
Rhode Island General Laws § 34-18-8 carves out eight specific living arrangements from the state's residential landlord-tenant chapter. These include institutional residences tied to detention or care, occupancy under a purchase contract, fraternal-organization housing, transient hotel or motel stays subject to sales or lodgings tax, employer-provided housing for on-site maintenance workers at larger properties, cooperative proprietary leases, commercial lettings, and transitional housing facilities. Unless both parties explicitly agree in writing to be governed by the chapter, none of these arrangements carry the rights or obligations that chapter 34-18 otherwise establishes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in any of the eight categories listed in § 34-18-8 — such as transitional housing facilities, hotels subject to lodgings tax, or employer-provided housing at properties with more than eleven units — generally do not administer those arrangements under the Rhode Island residential landlord-tenant chapter. Compliant operators in these categories typically document the nature of the occupancy clearly (e.g., employment agreements, purchase contracts, or institutional enrollment records) so the basis for the exclusion is evident. If there is any ambiguity about whether an arrangement falls within an exclusion, operators commonly seek legal guidance before assuming chapter 34-18 protections do not apply.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
If you live in one of the arrangements described in § 34-18-8 — such as a hotel, a transitional housing facility, or employer-provided housing at a large property — the standard Rhode Island landlord-tenant protections of chapter 34-18 may not automatically apply to your situation. However, the exclusion does not apply if both you and the other party have expressly agreed to be governed by the chapter, which could restore those protections. Tenants who are uncertain whether their living arrangement falls within one of these exclusions may find it helpful to consult 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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