AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT (Requires effective January 1, 2027, that upon the execution of a lease agreement for a mobile and manufactured homes in a mobile and manufactured home park, a complete copy of the lease be provided to the tenant within 10 days of execution.)

H7285

2026 -- H 7285
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LC003958
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT

Introduced By:
Representatives Nardone, Chippendale, Quattrocchi, Place, and Santucci

Date Introduced:
January 23, 2026

Referred To:
House Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 34-18-15 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-18 entitled "Residential
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Landlord and Tenant Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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34-18-15. Terms and conditions of rental agreement.
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(a) A landlord and a tenant may include in a rental agreement terms and conditions not
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prohibited by this chapter or other rule of law, including rent, term of the agreement, and other
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provisions governing the rights and obligations of the parties.
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(1) If there are fees beyond the rent that apply to the rental of a unit, the lease shall disclose
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those fees in the same section as the rent disclosure and shall indicate that additional fees may
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apply. This requirement does not apply whenever the tenant or unit are receiving state or federal
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subsidies that require a different lease format.
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(2) If there is no written lease, the landlord shall provide to the tenant, in writing, a list of
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all fees beyond the rent that apply to the rental of the unit. Any change in required fees must be
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disclosed in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to the change becoming effective.
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(3) In any lease agreement the landlord shall disclose which utility costs are included in
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the rent and which utility costs are the tenant’s responsibility. If there is no written lease, the
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landlord shall provide this information to the tenant in writing.
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(4) If a tenant is required to obtain renters insurance, this requirement must be stated in the
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lease or if there is no written lease the landlord shall provide this information to the tenant in
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writing.

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(5) If a landlord fails to comply with subsections (a)(1) — (a)(4) of this section, the tenant
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may recover any fees paid for the unit that were not disclosed as required.
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(b) In absence of agreement, the tenant shall pay as rent the fair rental value for the use and
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occupancy of the dwelling unit.
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(c) Rent is payable without demand or notice at the time and place agreed upon by the
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parties. Unless otherwise agreed, rent is payable at the dwelling unit and periodic rent is payable at
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the beginning of any term of one month or less and otherwise in equal monthly installments at the
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beginning of each month. Unless otherwise agreed, rent is uniformly apportionable from day-to-
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day.
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(d) Unless the rental agreement fixes a definite term, the tenancy is week-to-week in case
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of a roomer who pays weekly rent, and in all other cases month to month.
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(e) A tenant who is sixty-five (65) years of age or older or who will turn sixty-five (65)
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during the term of a rental agreement for a dwelling unit may terminate such a rental agreement in
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order to enter a residential care and assisted living facility, as defined in § 23-17.4-2, a nursing
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facility, or a unit in a private or public housing complex designated by the federal government as
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housing for the elderly. The tenant may terminate the rental agreement by notice given in writing
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to the usual person to whom rental payments are made. The notice shall be accompanied by
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documentation of admission or pending admission to a facility or housing complex described in
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this section. Termination of the rental agreement shall be effective no earlier than forty-five (45)
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days after the first rental payment due date following delivery of written notice of termination.
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(f)(1) A lease of premises occupied, or intended to be occupied, by a servicemember or a
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servicemember’s dependents may be unilaterally terminated if:
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(i) The lease is executed by or on behalf of a person who, thereafter, and during the term
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of the lease, enters military service; or
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(ii) The servicemember, while in military service, executes the lease and thereafter receives
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military orders for a change of permanent station or to deploy with a military unit, or as an
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individual in support of a military operation, for a period of not less than ninety (90) days; and
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(iii) The lessee delivers to the lessor (or the lessor’s grantee), or to the lessor’s agent (or
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the agent’s grantee), written notice of the termination, and a copy of the servicemember’s military
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orders.
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(2)
Effective date of lease termination.
In the event that a lease provides for monthly
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payment of rent, termination of the lease under this section is effective thirty (30) days after the
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first date on which the next rental payment is due and payable after the date on which the notice is
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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
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month following the month in which the notice is delivered.
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(4) The lessee shall be responsible for rent amounts of the lease that are unpaid for the
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period preceding the effective date of the lease termination on a prorated basis. The lessor may not
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impose an early termination charge, but any taxes, summonses, or other obligations and liabilities
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of the lessee in accordance with the terms of the lease, including reasonable charges to the lessee
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for excess wear, that are due and unpaid at the time of termination of the lease, shall be paid by the
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lessee.
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(5)
Rent paid in advance.
Rents or lease amounts paid in advance for a period after the
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effective date of the termination of the lease shall be refunded to the lessee by the lessor (or the
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lessor’s assignee or the assignee’s agent) within thirty (30) days of the effective date of the
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termination of the lease.
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(6) A lessee’s termination of a lease pursuant to this section shall terminate any obligation
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a dependent of the lessee may have under the lease.
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(g)(1) Effective January 1, 2027, upon the execution or renewal of any written lease
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agreement of a mobile and manufactured home, as defined in § 31-44-1, located in a mobile and
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manufactured home park as defined in 31-44-1, pursuant to this chapter, the landlord shall provide
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the tenant with a complete copy of the signed lease, including all pages, addenda, and any
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attachments incorporated into the lease within ten (10) days of execution.
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(2) Failure by the landlord to provide the tenant with a complete copy of the lease
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agreement shall constitute a violation of this chapter, and the tenant may seek remedies in the
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appropriate court or through administrative complaint.
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(3) For the purposes of this section, a "complete copy" means the entire lease document as
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signed by both parties, including any written rules, regulations, addenda, disclosures, or notices
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referenced in the lease.
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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 require effective January 1, 2027, that upon the execution of a lease
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agreement for a mobile and manufactured home in a mobile and manufactured home park, a
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complete copy of the lease be provided to the tenant within ten (10) days of execution.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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