Bills affecting Renter in Rhode Island (2026 session)

Requires landlords who rent shoreline property to provide their tenants, before the start of the tenancy, with a detailed, written disclosure regarding their shoreline access rights.

Adds a provision that allows a tenant to pay the last month's rent or any other prepaid rent. It also increases the amount that a security deposit can be requested from one to two (2) months of rent.

Removes the five (5) year waiting period for filing a motion to seal an eviction court file. It also deletes the numerical limitation on filing seal requests.

Provides that landlords would pay interest on security deposits in residential landlord-tenant matters.

Allows a tenant to pay an increased security deposit in monthly increments over the course of a twelve (12) month period.

Grants tenants that are the victim of various forms of abuse including, but not limited to, sexual and domestic abuse and stalking, the right to terminate a lease agreement early without penalty or liability for rent.

Spells out the responsibilities of both the landlord and tenant with respect to the inspection and treatment of bed bugs in residential premises.

Increases the notification time about rent increases and termination of tenancy for month-to-month tenants.

Defines squatter as a person occupying a dwelling unit who is not authorized by the property owner, landlord or tenant to occupy the unit and provides remedies for property owner including police assistance to remove a squatter.

Limits rent increases to 4% annually, but allows an additional increase for taxes, insurance, or health and safety costs if the landlord gets an exemption from the secretary of housing, and provides tenants civil remedies for violations.

Prohibits a landlord from removing a tenant from any housing accommodation, or attempt such removal or exclusion from possession.

Provides for just cause evictions for residential landlord tenancies.

Requires landlords to register certain information for residential properties constructed prior to 1978 with the department of health on a statewide registry and defines which information may be viewed on a public database.

Prohibits the use of algorithmic pricing by landlords to determine the amount of rent to charge a residential tenant.

Allows sealing of eviction records for defective complaint or lack of jurisdiction for individuals between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-one (21) who didn't sign the lease.

Requires landlords to provide a receipt upon receiving a cash payment for rent from a tenant.

Provides for the sealing of eviction records under certain circumstances.

Creates the division of civil representation within the department of housing and require civil representation by a Designated Legal Organization to provide legal representation to all tenants who qualify in eviction proceedings.

Requires landlords of residential properties built before 1978 to register lead hazard mitigation information with the department of health and the information would remain private and only accessible by specific entities.

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.