2024 -- H 7304 | |
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LC003668 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Stewart, Morales, Voas, Sanchez, Knight, Alzate, Potter, | |
Date Introduced: January 26, 2024 | |
Referred To: House Judiciary | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Section 34-18-16.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-18 entitled |
2 | "Residential Landlord and Tenant Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
3 | 34-18-16.1. Rent increases — Notice requirements. |
4 | (a) Findings of fact. |
5 | (1) Housing insecurity and instability continue to continue to grow in our state. According |
6 | to the 2023 Housing Fact Book by HousingWorksRI at Roger Williams University, these problems |
7 | are perpetuated by the sky-rocketing costs of housing. Since 2017, the median single-family home |
8 | price experienced a five (5)-year increase of thirty-two percent (32%). In addition, in 2023, the |
9 | Providence-Metro area had the highest year-over-year rental cost increase in the United States at |
10 | seven and three-tenths percent (7.3%), following a 2022 increase of twenty-three and eight-tenths |
11 | percent (23.8%). |
12 | (2) These increases mean that may Rhode Islanders, including those on fixed incomes, pay |
13 | too much of their income for housing and experience more competition for affordable units. Worse |
14 | yet, unable to keep pace with higher rents or locate adequate replacement housing, some have lost |
15 | their housing altogether, exacerbating the problem of homelessness in this state. |
16 | (3) These increases in costs, combined with inadequate wages, and insufficient available |
17 | units, generate pressures on persons and family units, generate pressures on persons and family |
18 | units such that those who are able to initially attain affordable housing are unable to retain that |
19 | housing. |
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1 | (4) For those faced with increased costs and a more competitive housing market, time can |
2 | be a precious resource to reconfigure household budgets or to find a new residence altogether. To |
3 | that end, an extension of the time within which a landlord must provide notice to a residential tenant |
4 | will, in effect buy time for these tenants. |
5 | (a)(b) Prior to an increase in rent being imposed by a landlord for a residential tenancy, |
6 | notice of the increase shall be given in writing to any tenant by a landlord at least thirty (30) ninety |
7 | (90) days prior to the effective date of the increase. |
8 | (b)(c) A landlord must shall give at least one hundred twenty (120) sixty (60) days notice |
9 | to month to month tenants over the age of sixty-two (62) years, before raising the rent. |
10 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT | |
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1 | This act would require that landlords of residential properties give tenants notice of a rent |
2 | increase at least ninety (90) days prior to the effective date of the increase and would require that |
3 | the notice requirement for rent increases for month to month tenants who are over the age of sixty- |
4 | two (62) years, to at least one hundred twenty (120) days. |
5 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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