R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 31-44 § 31-44-3.2

(a)(1) In any instance in which a mobile home park is to be sold or leased for any purpose
which would result in a discontinuance of the mobile home park, the mobile home park
owner shall give at least one year written notice by certified mail return receipt
requested to each mobile home resident of the proposed sale or lease.


(2) The mobile home park owner shall pay to any resident who is entitled to receive notice
pursuant to this section, relocation benefits of up to four thousand dollars ($4,000)
or the actual relocation expenses incurred, whichever is less. The relocation benefits
shall be payable within ten (10) days of the departure of the resident and the removal
of the mobile home unit from the park. In the event that the resident fails to remove
the unit from the park and the park owner is required to remove the unit, the relocation
benefits shall be reduced by an amount equal to the documented out of pocket moving
costs incurred by the park owner for the physical removal of the unit.


(3) Any mobile home park owner shall provide to each resident who is entitled to receive
relocation benefits pursuant to this section, a rental agreement. The agreement shall
begin on the date of the issuance of the notice of discontinuance. The provisions
of the rental agreement shall not alter in any manner the tenancy arrangement existing
between the park owner and resident prior to issuance of the notice of discontinuance,
except with respect to the amount of annual rent, which may be increased by an amount
not to exceed the increase in the consumer price index for urban consumers, published
by the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, from the calendar
year immediately preceding the date upon which the rental agreement is commenced plus
the proportionate amount of any documented increase in real estate taxes or other
municipal fee or charge; provided, that the total amount of the increase shall not
exceed ten percent (10%) of the annual rent charged in the immediately preceding year.
Once a resident has received a notice of discontinuance, his or her rent, and fees,
shall not be increased unless a year has passed from the date of the last increase
imposed upon the resident.


(b) Any new resident taking up residence at the park, after the initial notice of discontinuance
has been mailed, shall be given a copy of the notice in hand prior to his or her signing
a lease and/or placing his or her unit in the park. The new resident shall be provided
a form upon which he or she shall acknowledge in writing having received a copy of
the notice.


(c) Any new resident taking up residence at the park after the initial notice of discontinuance
has been mailed and who receives a copy of the notice of discontinuance provided for
in the preceding paragraph shall not be entitled to any relocation benefits as provided
for in this section.