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HB 5921

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- HOUSING MAINTENANCE AND OCCUPANCY CODE

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Karen Alzate and 5 co-sponsors

The bill strengthens housing enforcement by requiring clear notices, tenant rent escrow after a second violation notice, and registration of nonresident landlord agents, expanding

03/18/2025 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 5921

Summary — HB 5921 (2025)

Title: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES — HOUSING MAINTENANCE AND OCCUPANCY CODE
Status: Committee recommended measure be held for further study (03/18/2025)
Introduced: Filed Dec 16, 2024; first reading Jan 4, 2025; referred to committees Jan–Feb 2025; introduced to House Judiciary Feb 28, 2025

Purpose / Intent

The bill amends Rhode Island’s Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code (R.I. Gen. Laws chapter 45-24.3) and portions of the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (chapter 34-18) to clarify and expand procedures for notice of housing-code violations, strengthen tenant notification requirements, create procedural steps following reinspections, and set registration requirements for nonresident landlords’ agents.

Key provisions and changes

  • Notice requirements

    • Enforcing officer must issue a written notice stating alleged violations, describe the affected dwelling/unit, and provide a reasonable correction period not to exceed 30 days.
    • Service may be personal, certified/registered mail (return receipt), posting on the premises, or newspaper publication for three consecutive days if persons cannot be found.

  • Nonresident landlord agent requirement

    • Nonresident owners must continuously maintain a registered agent with the city/town clerk where the property is located (individual resident in RI or a corporation authorized to do business).
    • Designation must be written and include agent name/address and the street addresses of covered properties.
    • Failure to maintain an agent carries a $100 fine.

  • Reinspection and second notice

    • Enforcing officer must reinspect after the correction period.
    • If violations persist, a second notice is issued that constitutes an order to correct within a reasonable time, not to exceed 30 days after reinspection, unless a hearing is requested.
    • Upon issuance of a second notice, tenants must deposit all or part of accrued and ongoing rent into an escrow-bearing account equal to the rent amount they may be entitled to as an abatement until violations are corrected.

  • Recording, penalties, and transfer consequences

    • Second notices must be posted on the premises, served, and recorded in the land records.
    • The notice must state that a cumulative civil penalty is imposed (per §45-24.3-18); notices and liens are not released until violations are abated and penalties paid.
    • Recorded notices are effective for three years; subsequent transferees are deemed to have notice and are subject to the same liabilities.
    • Owners may not sell, transfer, mortgage, or lease property subject to a notice without furnishing a true copy of the notice to the grantee/lessee/mortgagee and notifying the enforcing officer.

  • Landlord duty to notify tenants (chapter 34-18)

    • The bill amends §34-18-22.1 to require a landlord cited for a housing-code violation to deliver a copy of the notice to each residential tenant within 30 days, unless the landlord corrects all violations within that 30-day period. (Text provided in the file is truncated; summary reflects the portion shown.)

Who is affected

  • Tenants: improved notice of violations; creation of escrow protections for rent when serious violations remain uncorrected.
  • Landlords: additional procedural obligations (registered agent for nonresidents, tenant notification, disclosure on transfer) and potential fines/liens.
  • Local enforcing officers and municipal clerks: increased duties for service, reinspection, posting, recording notices, and maintaining registries.
  • Prospective purchasers/transferees: may take title subject to recorded notices and penalties.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced and referred through committees in Jan–Feb 2025; scheduled for hearing Mar 14, 2025.
  • On 03/18/2025 the committee recommended the measure be held for further study (effectively paused).

Considerations

  • The bill references penalties under §45-24.3-18 but does not specify amounts in the amended section.
  • The provision requiring tenant escrow on issuance of a second notice could alter landlord/tenant dynamics and litigation around rent abatement amounts and escrow administration.
  • The copy of the amendment to §34-18-22.1 is truncated in the provided text; readers should consult the full bill text or committee files for complete language.

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

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