Landlord-Tenant & Fair Housing
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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.

Energy;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

01/23/2025  Introduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government

Amends the Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act.

Housing;  Property; 

01/31/2025  Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

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

Health & Safety;  Landlord & Tenant; 

02/07/2025  Introduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government

Limits the use of certain criminal records and credit history reports in denying housing to prospective applicants, and provides for fines for failure to comply. This act further requires notices of denials to be sent to the prospective tenants.

Housing;  Property;  Public Records; 

02/07/2025  Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

Provides for just cause evictions for residential landlord tenancies.

Civil Procedure;  Housing;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

02/07/2025  Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

Amends notice requirements for self-storage facility before perfecting lien, to wit; 7 consecutive days of publication on a publicly accessible website or subsequent written notice to lessee, or publication once time in newspaper of general circulation.

Advertising;  Computer Technology;  Property; 

02/07/2025  Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
03/07/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/13/2025)
03/13/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study (7-0)

Prohibits a landlord from inquiring about the immigration status of a tenant subject to any federal laws or regulations, but may request financial information or proof of identity.

Housing;  Immigration;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

02/13/2025  Introduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government
03/28/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/03/2025)
04/03/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study (6-0)

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.

Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

02/26/2025  Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

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.

Housing;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property;  State Departments; 

02/26/2025  Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

Tenants with disabilities may request to keep an emotional support animals.

Animals;  Handicapped;  Housing;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

02/26/2025  Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

Limits rent increases to no more than 4% annually unless the landlord is granted exemption by the secretary of housing. Provides tenants with a civil action to recover damages, including award of attorneys' fees and punitive damages, for any violations.

Housing;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

02/26/2025  Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

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

Housing;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

03/07/2025  Introduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government

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.

Domestic Relations;  Housing;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property;  Victims of Crime; 

03/07/2025  Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

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.

Housing;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

03/14/2025  Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

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.

Criminal Offense;  Housing;  Landlord & Tenant;  Police & Fire;  Property; 

03/14/2025  Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

Allows for a tenant to withhold payment of rent, and deposit the rent accruing into an escrow bearing account, upon the issuance of a second notice of violation by an enforcing officer for any state or local minimum housing code enforcement agency.

Cities & Towns;  Housing;  Landlord & Tenant; 

03/27/2025  Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
03/27/2025  Introduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government

Requires certain landlords to obtain insurance to cover alternate living accommodations for displaced tenants due to fire or disaster.

Cities & Towns;  Housing;  Human Services;  Insurance;  Landlord & Tenant; 

04/04/2025  Introduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government

Prohibits landlords from inquiring about an applicant's prior incarceration and from discriminating against those who have been released from prison.

Correctional Institutions;  Equal Rights/Discrimination;  Housing;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

01/22/2025  Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing
01/23/2025  Committee transferred to House Judiciary
03/14/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/18/2025)
03/18/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

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

Housing;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

01/22/2025  Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
03/14/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/18/2025)
03/18/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Modifies the summons for eviction for reasons other than nonpayment of rent with the district court, to add a certificate of service section, and provides the option to post the summons/complaint conspicuously on door of the defendant/tenant's dwelling.

Courts;  Housing;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

01/24/2025  Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
03/14/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/18/2025)
03/18/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Limits rent increases to no more than 4% annually unless the landlord is granted an exemption by the secretary of housing and provides tenants with a civil action to recover damages, including an award of attorneys' fees/punitive damages, for violations.

Attorney;  Civil Procedure;  Fees;  Housing;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

01/31/2025  Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
03/14/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/18/2025)
03/18/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Defines the apportionment of financial responsibilities for expenses and improvements to the real property of the life estate between the life tenant and remainder man.

Housing;  Landlord & Tenant;  Probate Practice;  Property; 

01/31/2025  Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
02/07/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (02/11/2025)
02/11/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Requires a housing code enforcement officer to give a copy of any housing code violation notice to all tenants of the building affected by a housing code violation along with any hearing dates scheduled for the violation.

Cities & Towns;  Housing;  Landlord & Tenant; 

01/31/2025  Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing
03/14/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/20/2025)
03/20/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Amends notice requirements for self-storage facility before perfecting lien, to wit; 7 consecutive days of publication on a publicly accessible website or subsequent written notice to lessee, or publication once time in newspaper of general circulation.

Computer Technology;  Property; 

02/07/2025  Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
02/28/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/04/2025)
03/04/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

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.

Energy;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

02/12/2025  Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
03/14/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/18/2025)
03/18/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Provides for just cause evictions for residential landlord tenancies.

Housing;  Landlord & Tenant; 

02/13/2025  Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
03/14/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/18/2025)
03/18/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Tenants with disabilities may request to keep an emotional support animals.

Animals;  Handicapped;  Housing;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

02/13/2025  Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
03/14/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/18/2025)
03/18/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Prohibits a landlord from inquiring about the immigration status of a tenant subject to any federal laws or regulations, but may request financial information or proof of identity.

Immigration;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

02/26/2025  Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
03/14/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/18/2025)
03/18/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Prohibits a landlord from inquiring about the immigration status of a tenant subject to any federal laws or regulations, but may request financial information.

Immigration;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

02/26/2025  Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
03/14/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/18/2025)
03/18/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Limits residential rent increases to ten percent (10%) plus the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) annually.

Housing;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

02/26/2025  Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
03/14/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/18/2025)
03/18/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

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.

Housing;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

02/26/2025  Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
03/14/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/18/2025)
03/18/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

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

Housing;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

02/28/2025  Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
03/14/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/18/2025)
03/18/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

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.

Criminal Offense;  Housing;  Landlord & Tenant;  Police & Fire;  Property; 

02/28/2025  Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
03/14/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/18/2025)
03/18/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Amends the Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act.

Housing;  Property; 

02/28/2025  Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
03/14/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/18/2025)
03/18/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Provides among the purposes of zoning ordinances, the duty to affirmatively further fair housing.

Cities & Towns;  Housing;  Lieutenant Governor;  Zoning; 

02/28/2025  Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing
03/07/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
03/07/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/11/2025)
03/11/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Authorizes the city of Providence to adopt rent control ordinances subject to certain exemptions.

Housing;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property;  Providence; 

02/28/2025  Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing
03/28/2025  Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/02/2025)
04/02/2025  Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Removes the 5 year waiting period to seal court records where a civil action was dismissed, or there was a lack of prosecution, or the matter resolved and the terms of the resolution satisfied, removes the limit of 1 request to seal records every 5 years.

Civil Procedure;  Courts;  Judiciary;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property; 

03/19/2025  Introduced, referred to House Judiciary

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.

Domestic Relations;  Landlord & Tenant;  Property;  Victims of Crime; 

04/02/2025  Introduced, referred to House Judiciary