R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-18.1 § 34-18.1-11
Action by or against executors or administrators for arrears of rent
Operative Text
An action may be brought by or against executors and administrators, for any arrears of rent accrued in the lifetime of the deceased parties respectively, in the same manner as for debts due from or to the same parties in their lifetime on a personal contract.
Rhode Island General Laws § 34-18.1-11 establishes that unpaid rent that accumulated before a landlord's or tenant's death does not simply disappear upon that person's death. Instead, the estate of the deceased party — represented by an executor or administrator — can either pursue or be held liable for those rent arrears, treated much like any other personal debt owed by or to the deceased. This provision ensures continuity of rental obligations across the event of death.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 34-18.1-11, a landlord's estate retains the right to collect rent that was owed but unpaid before the landlord's death, and conversely, a landlord's estate may be held responsible for obligations owed to a tenant that arose before death. Compliant property managers and estate representatives typically document all outstanding rent balances carefully and communicate with the estate's executor or administrator promptly when a party to a lease dies. Keeping thorough rent ledgers and lease records helps ensure that any pre-death arrears can be clearly identified and addressed through the estate process.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 34-18.1-11 means that if a tenant dies with unpaid rent, the landlord may bring a claim against the tenant's estate for those arrears — and equally, if a landlord dies while owing obligations to a tenant, the tenant may have a claim against the landlord's estate. Tenants who find themselves dealing with a deceased landlord's estate, or whose own estate may be implicated, can benefit from understanding that these claims are handled similarly to other personal contract debts under Rhode Island law. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service familiar with Rhode Island estate and landlord-tenant law can help clarify how this provision may apply in a given situation.
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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