Bill
HB 5918
Implements a statewide rental registry for pre-1978 units and strengthens tenant protections by limiting retaliatory landlord actions.
Status & procedural history
- Bill number: HB 5918
- Title: An Act Relating to Property — Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
- Introduced: January 22, 2025 (filed with Clerk Nov 25, 2024; introduced/ referred to House Judiciary Feb 28, 2025)
- Most recent action: 03/18/2025 — Committee recommended measure be held for further study.
Purpose
- To amend Rhode Island’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act by (1) clarifying and limiting prohibited retaliatory conduct by landlords and (2) creating/strengthening a statewide mandatory rental registry for housing built before 1978 that is subject to state lead-hazard mitigation rules.
Key provisions — Retaliatory conduct (amendment to § 34-18-46)
- Maintains prohibition on landlord retaliation (rent increases, decreased services, eviction actions) when tenants report health/safety code violations, complain under § 34-18-22, join tenant organizations, or exercise other lawful rights.
- Creates a rebuttable presumption of retaliation if a tenant complaint occurred within six months before the alleged retaliatory act (presumption does not arise if tenant complained after notice of a rent increase or service reduction).
- Clarifies circumstances in which an eviction/possession action is not considered retaliatory, specifically when:
1. The code violation was primarily caused by the tenant (or invitee);
2. The tenant is behind on rent; or
3. Compliance with lead mitigation, building/housing code, or other public actions (e.g., eminent domain) requires alteration/demolition that effectively deprives tenant use of the unit — provided municipal relocation requirements have been met.
- Specifies that bringing such an action under these exceptions does not relieve the landlord of other liabilities under § 34-18-28(b).
Key provisions — Statewide mandatory rental registry (amendment to § 34-18-58)
- Coverage: Applies to landlords leasing residential properties constructed prior to 1978 that are not exempt from Rhode Island’s lead hazard mitigation chapter (chapter 128.1 of title 42).
- Required registration information (per dwelling/unit):
- Names of individual landlords or business/property management entities;
- Active business/PO/home address;
- Active email;
- Active telephone number reasonably facilitating tenant contact;
- Property manager/agent information (address, email, phone) where applicable;
- Identifying information for each dwelling unit.
- Lead compliance: Landlords must also provide a valid certificate of conformance under chapter 128.1 or evidence of exemption for each dwelling unit.
- Database: DOH (or designee) shall create an online database with this information, contingent on available funding, no later than nine months after the section’s effective date. The bill limits access to:
- The tenant(s) of the specific unit,
- Department of Health,
- Any Rhode Island city/town,
- Rhode Island judiciary, and
- Other RI government agencies with legitimate, lead- or code-enforcement–related purposes.
- Registration timelines and updates:
- Landlords subject to the rules as of Sept 1, 2024, must register by Oct 1, 2025 (text reflects changing deadline from 2024 to 2025).
- New acquisitions/new tenancies after Sept 1, 2024 must register within 60 days of acquisition/lease (change from 30 days).
- Annual re-registration required by Oct 1 each year to update info, but not required if no changes.
- Penalties & funds:
- Civil fines: at least $50/month for failing to register subsection (a) info; at least $125/month for failing to register subsection (b) (lead certificate) info.
- Penalties payable to DOH into a restricted “rental registry account” to administer the registry or for lead mitigation/abatement/enforcement/poisoning prevention.
- No penalties may be levied prior to Oct 1, 2024 (text retains earlier date).
Notes, scope & impact
- Primary impacts: landlords of pre-1978 rental housing (especially those required to meet lead mitigation rules), tenants in those units, DOH, municipalities, and courts involved in enforcement or eviction proceedings.
- The registry increases transparency of landlord contact and lead compliance for regulated units, and provides a limited-access database for tenants and enforcement agencies.
- The retaliatory-conduct amendments reinforce tenant protections while clarifying lawful exceptions (tenant-caused violations, nonpayment, or official remediation actions).
- One subsection (34-18-58(g)) is truncated in the provided text; the final language may contain additional eviction-related limits or procedures and should be reviewed in the complete bill.
Next steps / procedural posture
- Referred to House Judiciary; committee recommended holding the measure for further study on 03/18/2025. Further hearings or amendments are possible before any floor vote.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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