Responsibilities and Rights of the Landlord and Tenant

Rent Is:

  • Payment of an amount set by a rental contract in return for the right to occupy or use another’s property.
  • Due, typically, on or before the first day of each month.

If you do not pay your rent by the due date, you may be charged late fees after a specified period. If any part of your rent is 15 or more days late, your landlord may send a written notice that:

  • Specifies the amount overdue and demands its payment.
  • Notifies you that if the rent due is not paid within five days, your rental agreement is terminated.

If you do not then pay the rent due within five days, your landlord can begin taking action to evict you. An escalator clause in a lease allows a landlord to charge additional rent for specified expenses (usually property taxes or utility charges), if they increase:

  • Over a stated period
  • Above a predetermined unit cost

Utilities

  • Your lease should state who is responsible for paying for gas, heat, electricity or water; you or your landlord.
  • If not stated in the lease, payment for utilities is your landlord’s responsibility.
  • Your landlord may not turn off your heat, electricity, or gas at any time during your occupancy except when necessary for repair work.

Security Deposits

  • Can be required by your landlord at the beginning of a new rental term
  • Cannot exceed one month’s rent
  • Must, by law, be returned to you no more than 20 days after you move out, minus any deductions allowed by law, provided that you
    • Return the key(s) to the living unit
    • Provide a forwarding address

Your landlord must provide you with an itemized list of any deductions withheld from your security deposit for:

  • Unpaid rent.
  • Physical damages are other than ordinary wear and tear.

This list should accompany the balance of the security deposit being returned to you. Deposits other than a security deposit may be required by your landlord, such as a key deposit.

For more information on security deposits, refer to the State of Rhode Island Landlord-Tenant Handbook.