R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-18 § 34-18-37
Termination of periodic tenancy
Operative Text
(a) The landlord or the tenant may terminate a week-to-week tenancy by a written notice, in a form substantially similar to that provided in § 34-18-56(c), delivered to the other at least ten (10) days before the termination date specified in the notice. (b) The landlord or the tenant may terminate a month-to-month tenancy or any periodic tenancy for more than a month or less than a year by a written notice, in a form substantially similar to that provided in § 34-18-56(c), delivered to the other at least thirty (30) days before the date specified in the notice. (c) The landlord or tenant may terminate a year-to-year tenancy by written notice, in a form substantially similar to that provided in § 34-18-56(c), delivered to the other at least three (3) months prior to the expiration of the occupation year.
Rhode Island General Laws § 34-18-37 establishes the minimum written notice periods required to end periodic tenancies. A week-to-week tenancy requires at least 10 days' written notice, a month-to-month (or other periodic tenancy shorter than a year) requires at least 30 days' written notice, and a year-to-year tenancy requires at least three months' written notice before the end of the occupation year. The notice must be in a form substantially similar to the template provided in § 34-18-56(c), and either the landlord or the tenant may initiate termination under these rules.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 34-18-37, compliant operators deliver written termination notices that meet the minimum lead times tied to the tenancy type — 10 days for week-to-week arrangements, 30 days for month-to-month or other sub-annual periodic tenancies, and three months for year-to-year tenancies. The notice should follow the form described in § 34-18-56(c) to satisfy the 'substantially similar' standard the statute requires. Operators generally keep dated records of delivery to document that the notice was provided within the required timeframe.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 34-18-37 of Rhode Island General Laws gives tenants the same right to terminate a periodic tenancy as landlords, provided the correct written notice period is observed — 10 days for week-to-week, 30 days for month-to-month, and three months for year-to-year tenancies. If a landlord attempts to end a tenancy without providing the required written notice in the form described in § 34-18-56(c), a tenant may be able to raise that deficiency as a defense in any resulting eviction proceeding. Tenants who have questions about whether a notice they received complies with § 34-18-37 may wish to contact a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office for general information.
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 In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation