WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 2294

AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT -- JUST CAUSE EVICTIONS

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jake Bissaillon and 3 co-sponsors

SB 2294 requires eviction only for court-proven “good cause” grounds, protecting tenants and allowing damages if landlords misuse eviction, with several specific exceptions.

04/28/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 2294

Summary of SB 2294 (Rhode Island, 2026) – Just Cause Evictions

Purpose and intent

SB 2294 proposes adding “just cause” protections to the Rhode Island Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. The core aim is to restrict a landlord’s ability to remove a tenant or terminate a tenancy without a legally validated reason, by requiring eviction or removal actions to be based on specified grounds of “good cause” and established through a court process. The measure would apply to most housing accommodations subject to the act, with several notable exceptions.

Key provisions and changes

  • New applicability clause (34-18-7.1): The just-cause eviction framework would apply to all housing accommodations covered by chapter 18, with four explicit exceptions:

    • Owner-occupied premises with fewer than four units
    • Sublets where the sublessor seeks possession for personal use
    • Premises where possession/occupancy is incidental to employment and the employment is lawfully terminated
    • Premises already regulated by other state or federal law that requires good cause for termination or non-renewal

  • Grounds for eviction or removal (34-18-38.3): Landlords may not remove a tenant except for “good cause” proven in court. Grounds include:

    • Failure to pay rent, with a caveat that rent increases must not be used to circumvent the statute; there is a rebuttable presumption that unregulated rents increased by more than 4% or 1.5x the local CPI are unreasonable
    • Violation of substantial tenancy obligations, with a 10-day cure period after written notice
    • Nuisance, substantial damage to the property, or conduct that interferes with others’ comfort
    • Violation of law by the tenant, with conditions on cure and balancing rights to cure by paying rent
    • Illegal use of the unit
    • Refusal to grant access for necessary repairs or for showing the unit to prospective buyers/mortgagees (with 48 hours’ notice for non-emergency repairs)
    • Good-faith recovery of possession for owner-occupied buildings with few units (specific to sub-conditions)
    • Good-faith recovery in buildings with fewer than five units for the landlord’s principal residence

  • Damage and remedies (33-38.3(2)): Tenants can sue for damages if a landlord uses a ground listed under (b)(1) in bad faith (e.g., fraudulent use of a proposed use to push out a tenant). Prevailing tenants may recover actual damages and reasonable attorneys’ fees.

  • Waivers void (34-18-38.4): Any lease provision attempting to waive or modify tenant rights under the just-cause provisions is void as against public policy.

  • Compliance and process (34-18-54.1): Enforcement must comply with existing notice and procedural requirements; no judgment of possession may be entered unless all applicable laws and notice requirements are satisfied.

  • Effective date: The act would take effect upon passage.

Who and what is affected

  • Affected parties: Most landlords and tenants in Rhode Island residential properties subject to the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.
  • Exclusions: Certain owner-occupied properties, specific subletting arrangements for personal use, units tied to employment terminations, and units under other rent/eviction regulations.

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • Eviction actions would require court proceedings where “good cause” grounds are proven.
  • There are cure periods (e.g., 10 days for certain violations, 48-hour notice for access-related issues) and protections around rent increases and cure of violations.
  • The bill specifies voiding waivers and emphasizes adherence to existing notice and procedural requirements.

Overall impression

SB 2294 creates a comprehensive framework for “just cause” evictions, balancing tenant protections with landlord rights. It emphasizes court review for evictions, delineates explicit grounds, discourages misuse of rent increases as evasion, and preserves tenants’ rights to damages and legal fees when bad-faith evictions occur. The exemptions recognize particular ownership and regulatory contexts. The bill would take effect immediately upon passage.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.