Rhode Island General Laws Chapter 34-18 — Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
The core Rhode Island residential landlord-tenant law: lease terms, habitability warranty, security-deposit rules (§34-18-19), landlord entry, tenant remedies, and termination grounds. 68 sections. Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov (LexisNexis XHTML). Verified 2026-10-15.
Provisions (68)
§ 34-18-1
Short title
§ 34-18-10
Service of process for actions pursuant to chapter
§ 34-18-11
Definitions
§ 34-18-12
Obligation of good faith
§ 34-18-13
Unconscionability
§ 34-18-14
Notice
§ 34-18-15
Terms and conditions of rental agreement
§ 34-18-16
Effect of unsigned or undelivered rental agreement
§ 34-18-16.1
Rent increases — Notice requirements
§ 34-18-17
Prohibited provisions in rental agreements
§ 34-18-18
Receipt of rent free of maintenance obligations forbidden
§ 34-18-19
Security deposits
§ 34-18-2
Purposes — Rules of construction
§ 34-18-20
Disclosure
§ 34-18-21
Landlord to deliver possession of dwelling unit
§ 34-18-22
Landlord to maintain premises
§ 34-18-22.1
Landlord's duty to notify tenant of violation
§ 34-18-22.2
Landlord's duty regarding compliance with zoning and minimum housing laws
§ 34-18-22.3
Nonresident landlord to designate agent for service of process
§ 34-18-23
Limitation of liability upon sale or change of management
§ 34-18-24
Tenant to maintain dwelling unit
§ 34-18-25
Rules and regulations
§ 34-18-26
Access
§ 34-18-27
Tenant to use and occupy
§ 34-18-28
Noncompliance by the landlord in general
§ 34-18-29
Failure to deliver possession
§ 34-18-3
Supplementary principles of law applicable
§ 34-18-30
Self-help for limited repairs
§ 34-18-31
Wrongful failure to supply heat, water, hot water, or essential services
§ 34-18-32
Landlord's noncompliance as defense to action for possession or rent
§ 34-18-33
Fire or casualty damage
§ 34-18-34
Tenant's remedies for landlord's unlawful ouster, exclusion, or diminution of service
§ 34-18-35
Eviction for nonpayment of rent
§ 34-18-36
Eviction for noncompliance with rental agreement
§ 34-18-37
Termination of periodic tenancy
§ 34-18-38
Eviction for unlawfully holding over after termination or expiration of tenancy
§ 34-18-38.1
Definitions for purpose of the eviction of tenants in residential foreclosed properties
§ 34-18-38.2
Just cause needed for eviction of foreclosed residential property tenants
§ 34-18-39
Failure to maintain
§ 34-18-4
Construction against implicit repeal
§ 34-18-40
Remedies for abandonment
§ 34-18-41
Waiver of landlord's right to terminate
§ 34-18-42
Landlord liens — Distraint for rent abolished
§ 34-18-43
Remedy after termination
§ 34-18-44
Self-help recovery of possession prohibited
§ 34-18-45
Landlord and tenant remedies for abuse of access
§ 34-18-46
Retaliatory conduct prohibited
§ 34-18-47
Appeals
§ 34-18-48
Execution
§ 34-18-49
Payment of rent on stay of execution
§ 34-18-5
Administration of remedies — Enforcement
§ 34-18-50
Payment of moving costs required
§ 34-18-51
Issuance of execution on nonpayment of rent
§ 34-18-52
Payment of rent during pendency of appeal
§ 34-18-53
Dismissal of appeal for nonpayment of rent during pendency of appeals
§ 34-18-54
Savings clause
§ 34-18-55
Severability
§ 34-18-56
Notices and complaint forms
§ 34-18-57
Providence and Warwick Absentee Landlord Enforcement Act
§ 34-18-58
Statewide mandatory rental registry
§ 34-18-59
Fair limitation on rental application fees
§ 34-18-6
Temporary restraining orders — Ex parte proceedings
§ 34-18-60
Sealing and unsealing of court files
§ 34-18-61
Convenience fees prohibited
§ 34-18-62
Inquiries regarding immigration status
§ 34-18-7
Application
§ 34-18-8
Exclusions from application of chapter
§ 34-18-9