| Chapter 210 |
| 2021 -- S 0718 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 07/07/2021 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT |
Introduced By: Senator Michael J. McCaffrey |
| Date Introduced: March 26, 2021 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 34-18-22 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-18 entitled "Residential |
| Landlord and Tenant Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 34-18-22. Landlord to maintain premises. |
| (a) A landlord shall: |
| (1) Comply with the requirements of applicable building and housing codes affecting |
| health and safety; |
| (2) Make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and |
| habitable condition; |
| (3) Keep all common areas of the premises in a clean and safe condition; |
| (4) Maintain in good and safe working order and condition all electrical, plumbing, |
| sanitary, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and other facilities and appliances, including |
| elevators, supplied or required to be supplied by him or her the landlord; |
| (5) Provide and maintain appropriate receptacles and conveniences for the removal of |
| ashes, garbage, rubbish, and other waste incidental to the occupancy of the dwelling unit as required |
| by § 45-24.3-6, or applicable local codes if more restrictive, and arrange for their removal; and |
| (6) Supply running water and reasonable amounts of hot water at all times as required by |
| § 45-24.3-7, or applicable local codes if more restrictive, and reasonable heat as required by § 45- |
| 24.3-9, or applicable local codes if more restrictive, between October 1 and May 1, except where |
| the building that includes the dwelling unit is not required by law to be equipped for that purpose, |
| or the dwelling unit is so constructed that heat or hot water is generated by an installation within |
| the exclusive control of the tenant and supplied by a direct public utility connection.; and |
| (7) Obtain and have in full force and effect a general liability insurance policy of at least |
| one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for those persons injured on the premises due to the |
| negligence of the landlord. The landlord shall provide a copy of the declaration page from the |
| carrier showing said the policy to the tenant with the written lease at the beginning of the tenancy |
| and shall provide a new copy with each policy renewal to the tenant. |
| (b) If the duty imposed by subsection (a)(1) of this section is greater than any duty imposed |
| by any other paragraph of that subsection (a) of this section, the landlord's duty shall be determined |
| by reference to subsection (a)(1) of this section. |
| (c) The landlord and tenant of a dwelling unit may agree in writing that the tenant perform |
| specified repairs, maintenance tasks, alterations, and remodeling but only if: |
| (1) The agreement of the parties is entered into in good faith and set forth in a writing |
| signed by the parties and supported by adequate consideration; |
| (2) The work is not necessary to cure noncompliance with subsection (a)(1) of this section; |
| and |
| (3) The agreement does not diminish or affect the obligation of the landlord to other tenants |
| in the premises. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2022. |
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| LC002443/SUB A |
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