On June 25 th , 2024, the Governor approved a new law that regulates the types of fees that a landlord can charge a tenant. Rhode Island Public Laws 308 and 309, which are identical, take effect January 1, 2025. Here are the key requirements for landlords:
▪A landlord cannot charge a tenant a “convenience fee” for using a specific method to pay rent, such as paying by credit card, using a specific application, or by check.
▪All fees to a tenant must be disclosed in writing as part of a written rental agreement or a separate disclosure if there is no written rental agreement. The fees must be mentioned in the same section as rent.
▪A list of which utilities will be paid by the landlord and which will be paid by the tenant must be part of a written rental agreement or a separate disclosure if there is no written rental agreement.
▪Any requirement for a tenant to pay renter’s insurance must be disclosed as part of a written rental agreement or in writing if there is no written rental agreement.
▪Any changes to fees must be disclosed in writing a minimum of 30 days before the new requirements go into effect. If there is a written lease in effect, both the landlord and tenant must agree to any changes.
Penalties: If a landlord fails to properly disclose any of the above information, a tenant will be entitled to a refund of all fees, including utilities, renter’s insurance, and other fees that were not properly disclosed.
The RI Association of REALTORS® Forms Committee is in the process of incorporating these changes into the RIAR Residential Lease.
New laws normally aren't added to the separate Rhode Island General Laws database until November. To read Public Laws 308 and 309 or other new Rhode Island laws, search for "Public Laws" on the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
REALTORS®: For more information, please contact the RI REALTORS® Legal Department at [email protected] or 401-432-6945.
Watch the RI REALTORS Legislative Wrap-up to learn about new laws and regulations. (View webinar resource links here.)
