R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-45 § 34-45-9
Waiver of rights
Operative Text
(a) Any party to whom notice is required to be given may waive their rights at any time pursuant to a written waiver signed by a duly authorized representative, which waiver shall terminate all of their rights under this chapter. (b) For the purposes of the chapter, termination or expiration of a use restriction or a Section 8 (42 U.S.C. § 1437f) assistance contract does not include a termination or expiration which is immediately succeeded, without lapse, by an agreement or contract which embodies terms no less favorable to the tenants residing in the federally insured or assisted rental units than the prior agreement or contract.
Under Rhode Island General Laws § 34-45-9, any party who is entitled to receive notice under Chapter 34-45 may give up those rights entirely, but only through a written waiver signed by an authorized representative. The provision also clarifies that when a use restriction or Section 8 assistance contract ends but is immediately replaced—without any gap—by an agreement at least as favorable to tenants, that transition does not count as a true termination or expiration under the chapter. In other words, a seamless renewal or replacement of a qualifying housing agreement preserves the protections the chapter is designed to provide.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Chapter 34-45 should understand that § 34-45-9 sets a high bar for waiver: only a written document signed by a duly authorized representative is legally sufficient to extinguish a party's notice rights under the chapter. Operators managing federally assisted or insured rental housing should also be aware that replacing a use restriction or Section 8 contract without any lapse—and on terms no less favorable to tenants—means the transition will not be treated as a termination triggering additional chapter obligations. Compliant operators typically document any such contract transitions carefully to demonstrate continuity and comparability of terms.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 34-45-9 of Rhode Island General Laws means that tenants entitled to notice under Chapter 34-45 cannot lose those rights informally—only a signed, written waiver by an authorized representative can extinguish them. Tenants living in federally assisted or insured units should also know that if a Section 8 contract or use restriction is replaced immediately by an equally or more favorable agreement, the chapter's protections continue uninterrupted. Tenants who believe their rights under § 34-45-9 have been improperly waived or that a contract transition was not truly seamless may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider for general information about available options.
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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