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.
Requires owners or landlords who rent shoreline property to provide their tenants, before the start of the tenancy, with a detailed, written disclosure regarding public shoreline access rights.
HB 8109 would prohibit landlords from evicting tenants from residential housing without a valid legal reason, directly affecting both landlords and renters in rental properties. The bill prevents landlords from removing tenants or attempting to exclude them from their homes, requiring just cause for any eviction. Key provisions include banning no-cause evictions and establishing that landlords must have a legally recognized justification, such as nonpayment of rent or lease violations, to seek removal. This bill aims to strengthen tenant protections by limiting arbitrary displacement in residential housing.
HB 8113 (2026) requires residential landlords to pay interest on security deposits held for tenants. This directly affects landlords who collect security deposits and tenants who provide them. The key provision mandates that landlords pay interest on these deposits, likely calculated at a specified rate, though the exact rate isn't detailed in the abstract. The bill is currently in the introduction stage (referred to House Judiciary on 02/27/2026) and has not yet been voted on or enacted.
HB 8111 would allow tenants to have certain eviction records sealed, making them inaccessible to future landlords or background checks. This directly affects tenants who faced evictions under specific qualifying circumstances, such as disputes over repairs or non-payment due to financial hardship. The key mechanism requires tenants to petition a court to seal records after meeting eligibility criteria, removing them from public access. The bill aims to provide a fresh start for tenants by limiting the long-term impact of past eviction cases.
HB 7765 increases notice periods for landlords terminating month-to-month tenancies or raising rent in Rhode Island. It requires landlords to provide tenants with 60 days' written notice (up from 30 days) before termination or rent increases, and 120 days' notice for tenants aged 62 or older. This directly affects renters in month-to-month leases, giving them more time to adjust or find new housing. The bill amends the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to standardize notice requirements and forms, ensuring clearer communication about lease changes.
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.
HB 7764 prohibits landlords from using computer algorithms that rely on secret competitor data (like other landlords' rent prices or occupancy rates) to set or adjust residential rent. It directly affects residential landlords, property managers, and agents who use such tools to determine rent amounts. The law bans this practice starting January 1, 2027, with limited exemptions for federal housing programs and basic internal record-keeping. This change aims to prevent opaque, data-driven rent increases based on nonpublic market information. The bill does not restrict algorithms used solely for historical market reporting or compliance with government housing programs.
SB 2579 increases the notice period landlords must provide to terminate month-to-month tenancies in Rhode Island. For standard month-to-month tenants, landlords must give at least 30 days' written notice before termination; for tenants aged 62 or older, the notice period extends to 120 days. This directly affects renters in month-to-month leases, providing more time to find new housing or address lease issues. The bill amends the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to standardize these notice requirements without changing rent increase procedures.
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.
