Rhode Island Room Rental Agreement

Legal Aspects 

In the context of a Rhode Island Room Rental Agreement, it’s important to understand the landlord’s and tenant’s rights and responsibilities. Here are the key points:

Access to the Room 

• The owner can access the rented room for maintenance, repairs, or inspections. However, this should be done with reasonable notice given to the tenant.
• The tenant has the right to enjoy a reasonable level of privacy and peaceful occupancy of the rented room. This means that they should be able to live in the room without unnecessary disturbances.

Guest & Pets Policy 

Landlords have the authority to establish guest policies to safeguard their property and the rights of other occupants. 

• Liability: Visitors’ problems are the tenant’s responsibility as per the room rental agreement.
• Length of Stay: Most rental agreements allow guests to stay for a maximum of two (2) weeks without written approval from the landlord.
• Qualification for Tenancy: Guest policies may require adding them as tenants to the lease after a certain period. State Laws dictate the time frame for guests to acquire occupant’s rights.
• Number of Guests: Owners can limit the number of visitors a tenant can have based on occupancy rules and building noise levels. For example, a two-bedroom rental may allow up to four (4) non-overnight guests.
• Common Areas: Landlords oversee common areas, often off-limits to guests without written consent. Guest policies may also restrict on-site parking.

Pet Policies:

• Pets and other animals, if left unsupervised, have the potential to cause property damage and may introduce pests or diseases. As a result, landlords often enforce stringent pet policies. It’s also common not to allow pets in a shared property.
• However, tenants frequently presume that animals are permitted in pet-friendly buildings, so thoroughly outlining animal management policies is crucial.

Security Deposit Regulations 

In Rhode Island, specific laws govern the collection of security deposits. Here are the key points:

• The maximum security deposit that a landlord can charge is equivalent to one (1) month’s rent.
• If a pet deposit is also collected, the combined total of the security deposit and the pet deposit cannot exceed the cost of one (1) month’s rent.
• An exception is made for furnished units valued over $5,000. In such cases, the landlord can charge up to two (2) months’ rent as a security deposit.
• The landlord must return the deposit to the tenant within 20 days after terminating the agreement. 
• If any deductions are to be made, the landlord must provide an itemized list for all deductions with the balance security deposit.
• If the landlord fails to return the security deposit within the timeframe, they’re subject to penalties double the security deposit plus any legal fees.