AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT (Permits a tenant, at the tenant’s expense, to implement energy conservation measures to any dwelling or dwelling unit such as removable weather-stripping around doors and windows.)

H7655

2026 -- H 7655
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LC004908
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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 Handy, Fogarty, Cortvriend, Batista, and Sanchez

Date Introduced:
February 11, 2026

Referred To:
House Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 34-18-30 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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34-18-30. Self-help for limited repairs.
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(a) If the landlord fails to comply with § 34-18-22(a)(1), (2), (4), (5), or (6), and the
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reasonable cost of compliance is less than five hundred dollars ($500) in the aggregate per year,
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the tenant may cause repairs to be done in a skilled manner, in compliance with applicable state
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and local codes, and deduct from the tenant’s rent the actual and reasonable cost or the fair and
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reasonable value of the repairs if:
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(1) The tenant notifies the landlord of the tenant’s intention to correct the condition at the
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landlord’s expense; and
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(2) The landlord fails to comply within twenty (20) days, or fails to demonstrate ongoing,
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good faith efforts to comply, after being notified by the tenant in writing; or, in the case of
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emergency, the landlord either cannot be reached by the tenant, or the landlord fails to comply as
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promptly as conditions require; and
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(3) The tenant submits an itemized statement to the landlord of the cost or the fair and
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reasonable value of the repairs made.
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(b) A tenant may not repair at the landlord’s expense if the condition was caused by the
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deliberate or negligent act or omission of the tenant, a member of the tenant’s family, or other
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person on the premises with the tenant’s consent.

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(c) A tenant may, at the tenant’s expense, implement energy conservation measures in any
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dwelling or dwelling unit to include, but not be limited to, removable weather-stripping around
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doors and windows, removable interior storm windows, or insulation wrap around hot water heating
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tanks. This section shall not apply to any group living unit, hotel unit or rooming unit.
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(d) Subsection (c) of this section shall not be construed to authorize the tenant to make
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structural changes to a building or otherwise restrict the availability to the tenant of other legal
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remedies.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC004908
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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 permit a tenant, at the tenant’s expense, to implement energy conservation
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measures to any dwelling or dwelling unit, such as removable weather-stripping around doors and
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windows, removable interior storm windows, or insulation wrap around hot water heating tanks.
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This section would not permit a tenant to make structural changes to any building.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004908
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LC004908 - Page 3 of 3