2025 -- H 5676

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LC000652

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Perez, Batista, Diaz, Shallcross Smith, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2025

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 34-18-15 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-18 entitled "Residential

Landlord and Tenant Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     34-18-15. Terms and conditions of rental agreement.

     (a) A landlord and a tenant may include in a rental agreement terms and conditions not

prohibited by this chapter or other rule of law, including rent, term of the agreement, and other

provisions governing the rights and obligations of the parties.

     (1) If there are fees beyond the rent that apply to the rental of a unit, the lease shall disclose

those fees in the same section as the rent disclosure and shall indicate that additional fees may

apply. This requirement does not apply whenever the tenant or unit are receiving state or federal

subsidies that require a different lease format.

     (2) If there is no written lease, the landlord shall provide to the tenant, in writing, a list of

all fees beyond the rent that apply to the rental of the unit. Any change in required fees must be

disclosed in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to the change becoming effective.

     (3) In any lease agreement the landlord shall disclose which utility costs are included in

the rent and which utility costs are the tenant’s responsibility. If there is no written lease, the

landlord shall provide this information to the tenant in writing.

     (4) If a tenant is required to obtain renters insurance, this requirement must be stated in the

lease or if there is no written lease the landlord shall provide this information to the tenant in

writing.

     (5) If a landlord fails to comply with subsections (a)(1) — (a)(4) of this section, the tenant

may recover any fees paid for the unit that were not disclosed as required.

     (b) In absence of agreement, the tenant shall pay as rent the fair rental value for the use and

occupancy of the dwelling unit.

     (c) Rent is payable without demand or notice at the time and place agreed upon by the

parties. Unless otherwise agreed, rent is payable at the dwelling unit and periodic rent is payable at

the beginning of any term of one month or less and otherwise in equal monthly installments at the

beginning of each month. Unless otherwise agreed, rent is uniformly apportionable from day-to-

day.

     (d) Unless the rental agreement fixes a definite term, the tenancy is week-to-week in case

of a roomer who pays weekly rent, and in all other cases month to month.

     (e) A tenant who is sixty-five (65) years of age or older or who will turn sixty-five (65)

during the term of a rental agreement for a dwelling unit may terminate such a rental agreement in

order to enter a residential care and assisted living facility, as defined in § 23-17.4-2, a nursing

facility, or a unit in a private or public housing complex designated by the federal government as

housing for the elderly. The tenant may terminate the rental agreement by notice given in writing

to the usual person to whom rental payments are made. The notice shall be accompanied by

documentation of admission or pending admission to a facility or housing complex described in

this section. Termination of the rental agreement shall be effective no earlier than forty-five (45)

days after the first rental payment due date following delivery of written notice of termination.

     (f)(1) A lease of premises occupied, or intended to be occupied, by a servicemember or a

servicemember’s dependents may be unilaterally terminated if:

     (i) The lease is executed by or on behalf of a person who, thereafter, and during the term

of the lease, enters military service; or

     (ii) The servicemember, while in military service, executes the lease and thereafter receives

military orders for a change of permanent station or to deploy with a military unit, or as an

individual in support of a military operation, for a period of not less than ninety (90) days; and

     (iii) The lessee delivers to the lessor (or the lessor’s grantee), or to the lessor’s agent (or

the agent’s grantee), written notice of the termination, and a copy of the servicemember’s military

orders.

     (2) Effective date of lease termination. In the event that a lease provides for monthly

payment of rent, termination of the lease under this section is effective thirty (30) days after the

first date on which the next rental payment is due and payable after the date on which the notice is

delivered.

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     (3) In the case of any other lease, termination of the lease is effective on the last day of the

month following the month in which the notice is delivered.

     (4) The lessee shall be responsible for rent amounts of the lease that are unpaid for the

period preceding the effective date of the lease termination on a prorated basis. The lessor may not

impose an early termination charge, but any taxes, summonses, or other obligations and liabilities

of the lessee in accordance with the terms of the lease, including reasonable charges to the lessee

for excess wear, that are due and unpaid at the time of termination of the lease, shall be paid by the

lessee.

     (5) Rent paid in advance. Rents or lease amounts paid in advance for a period after the

effective date of the termination of the lease shall be refunded to the lessee by the lessor (or the

lessor’s assignee or the assignee’s agent) within thirty (30) days of the effective date of the

termination of the lease.

     (6) A lessee’s termination of a lease pursuant to this section shall terminate any obligation

a dependent of the lessee may have under the lease.

     (g) During any twelve (12) month period, no rent increase shall be in an amount greater

than ten percent (10%) plus the increase in consumer price index above the existing rent. For

purposes of this section, the “consumer price index” refers to the Consumer Price Index for all

Urban Consumers (CPI-U) as published by the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics determined as

of September 30 of the prior calendar year.

     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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     This act would limit residential rent increases to ten percent (10%) plus the increase in the

Consumer Price Index (CPI) annually.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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