RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING UNVEILS UPDATED LANDLORD-TENANT HANDBOOK AS A TOOL FOR LANDLORDS AND TENANTS

Published on Monday, November 04, 2024

Providence, RI – The Rhode Island Department of Housing is pleased to announce the release of the updated Landlord-Tenant Handbook, marking the first revision since 2007. This new edition reflects the recent changes to Rhode Island’s laws affecting housing and the relationship between landlords and tenants. 

“We are committed to making housing resources accessible to every Rhode Islander,” said Rhode Island Department of Housing Interim Secretary Dan Connors. “This handbook not only reflects recent legislative changes but also incorporates feedback from our community partners and residents, ensuring it meets the needs of Rhode Island’s diverse population.” 

This updated handbook serves as a resource for both landlords and tenants, presenting a factual overview of the law as outlined in key legislative acts, including the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (RIGL 34-18), the Fair Housing Practices Act (RIGL 34-37), and the Lead Hazard Mitigation Act (RIGL 42-128.1). The handbook aims to provide clear and accessible information, avoiding editorialization to ensure that it is a tool for both landlords and tenants. 

The drafting process involved extensive collaboration with community organizations, attorneys, subject matter experts, and stakeholders. The preliminary draft was developed by the Rhode Island Center for Justice in partnership with Rhode Island Legal Services, and Housing Works RI. Public input was actively sought through written comments and an in-person session held this past February. The feedback received highlighted the importance of language accessibility, leading to plans for translation into multiple languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Haitian Creole, Arabic, and French. 

“The new version of the Landlord-Tenant Handbook has been years in the making, and we are thrilled to see this vital resource for public transparency becoming widely accessible,” said Jennifer Wood, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Center for Justice. “We commend the efforts to present essential housing stability information in a clear, accessible format and in multiple languages, ensuring it reaches as many Rhode Islanders as possible.” 

 “By providing landlords and tenants with accurate information about their rights, responsibilities, and proper procedures, the handbook will help resolve potential housing disputes before landlord-tenant relationships become irreparably damaged,” said Steven S. Flores, Esq., Director of the Housing Law Center at Rhode Island Legal Services. “Ultimately, this resource benefits Rhode Islanders by reducing the social and economic costs associated with unnecessary or illegal evictions.” 

 The updated Landlord-Tenant Handbook is currently available in English on the Rhode Island Department of Housing website, with editions in other languages to follow as they are finalized.  

 As mandated by a law passed in 2023, the handbook will be updated at least every two years. 

 For more information and to access the updated Landlord-Tenant Handbook, please visit 2024 Landlord Tenant Handbook Update | Department of Housing (ri.gov)