R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-18 § 34-18-28
Noncompliance by the landlord in general
Operative Text
(a) Except as provided by this chapter, if there is a noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or a noncompliance with § 34-18-22 materially affecting health and safety, the tenant may deliver a written notice to the landlord specifying the acts and omissions constituting the breach and that the rental agreement will terminate upon a date not less than thirty (30) days after receipt of the notice if the breach is not remedied in twenty (20) days, and the rental agreement shall terminate as provided in the notice subject to the following: (1) If the breach is remediable by repairs, the payment of damages or otherwise and the landlord adequately remedies the breach before the date specified in the notice, the rental agreement shall not terminate by reason of the breach. (2) If substantially the same act or omission which constituted a prior noncompliance of which notice was given recurs within six (6) months, the tenant may terminate the rental agreement upon at least fourteen (14) days' written notice specifying the breach and the date of termination of the rental agreement. (3) The tenant may not terminate for a condition caused by the deliberate or negligent act or omission of the tenant, a member of his or her family, or other person on the premises with his or her consent. (b) Except as provided in this chapter, the tenant may recover actual damages and obtain injunctive relief for noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or § 34-18-22. If the landlord's noncompliance is willful, the tenant may recover reasonable attorney's fees. (c) The remedy provided in subsection (b) of this section is in addition to any right of the tenant arising under subsection (a). (d) If the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord shall return all security recoverable by the tenant under § 34-18-19 and all prepaid rent.
Under Rhode Island law at R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-28, when a landlord fails to comply with the rental agreement or with the habitability standards in § 34-18-22 in a way that materially affects health and safety, the tenant has the right to pursue termination of the tenancy through a formal written-notice process. The landlord generally has 20 days to fix the problem after receiving notice before the termination takes effect, though if the same violation recurs within six months, a shorter 14-day notice period applies. Separately, tenants may also seek actual damages and injunctive relief in court, and if the landlord's violation was willful, reasonable attorney's fees may be recoverable as well.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Rhode Island law should understand that § 34-18-28 gives tenants a structured path to terminate a tenancy or seek damages when a landlord fails to meet obligations under the rental agreement or the habitability standards of § 34-18-22. Compliant operators generally respond promptly and thoroughly to written notices of breach, documenting all repair efforts and communications to demonstrate that any identified deficiency was adequately remedied within the 20-day window. Operators also take care to avoid repeat violations, since a recurrence of substantially the same breach within six months can trigger a shorter 14-day termination notice and potential liability for actual damages and, in cases of willful noncompliance, attorney's fees.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Rhode Island tenants should know that § 34-18-28 provides several overlapping remedies when a landlord fails to comply with the rental agreement or the health-and-safety standards referenced in § 34-18-22. One path involves delivering a written notice that specifies the breach and sets a termination date at least 30 days out, giving the landlord 20 days to remedy the problem; if the landlord does not fix it, the tenancy can end as stated in the notice. Tenants may also pursue actual damages and injunctive relief through the courts regardless of whether they choose to terminate, and those who believe a violation was willful may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider about the potential to recover attorney's fees under this provision.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation