R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-18 § 34-18-42
Landlord liens — Distraint for rent abolished
Operative Text
(a) A lien or security interest on behalf of the landlord in the tenant's household goods is not enforceable unless perfected before the effective date of this chapter, except as provided in § 34-18-50. (b) Distraint for rent is abolished.
Rhode Island General Laws § 34-18-42 establishes two related protections concerning a tenant's personal property. First, it renders unenforceable any landlord lien or security interest in a tenant's household goods unless that interest was legally perfected before the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act took effect, with a narrow exception referenced in § 34-18-50. Second, it abolishes the old common-law remedy of 'distraint for rent,' which historically allowed landlords to seize a tenant's belongings as leverage for unpaid rent.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 34-18-42, property owners and managers in Rhode Island cannot claim or enforce a lien against a tenant's household goods as a means of securing unpaid rent, unless that lien was properly perfected before the chapter's effective date. The practice of distraint—physically seizing or holding a tenant's personal property to compel rent payment—is no longer a lawful remedy in Rhode Island. Compliant operators rely on the legal remedies provided elsewhere in Chapter 34-18, such as eviction proceedings, rather than asserting any claim over a tenant's belongings.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 34-18-42 of Rhode Island law protects tenants from having their household goods seized or encumbered by a landlord seeking to collect rent. If a landlord attempts to hold, claim, or assert a lien over personal belongings as leverage for unpaid rent, that action is generally not permitted under this provision. Tenants who believe a landlord has improperly attempted to seize or claim their property may consider documenting the situation, contacting a local tenant-rights organization, or exploring remedies available under Chapter 34-18.
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