R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-18 § 34-18-45
Landlord and tenant remedies for abuse of access
Operative Text
(a) If the tenant refuses to allow lawful access, the landlord may obtain injunctive relief to compel access, or terminate the rental agreement. (b) If the landlord makes an unlawful entry or a lawful entry in an unreasonable manner or makes repeated demands for entry otherwise lawful but which have the effect of unreasonably harassing the tenant, the tenant may obtain injunctive relief to prevent the recurrence of the conduct or terminate the rental agreement. (c) In any action under subsection (a) or (b) the prevailing party may recover actual damages and shall be awarded costs and reasonable attorney's fees.
Rhode Island General Laws § 34-18-45 establishes a two-way framework governing access disputes between landlords and tenants. If a tenant blocks lawful entry, the landlord may seek a court order compelling access or end the tenancy. Conversely, if a landlord enters unlawfully, enters in an unreasonable manner, or repeatedly demands entry in a way that amounts to harassment, the tenant may seek a court order stopping that conduct or terminate the rental agreement. Whichever party prevails in a court action under this section is entitled to recover actual damages, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 34-18-45, compliant property owners and managers document their access requests, provide proper notice as required by Rhode Island law, and ensure that the timing and frequency of entry requests are reasonable and non-harassing. When a tenant refuses lawful access, operators generally have the option to pursue injunctive relief through the courts or to terminate the rental agreement in accordance with applicable procedures. Because the prevailing party in any § 34-18-45 action may recover actual damages, costs, and attorney's fees, maintaining clear records of access requests and the tenant's responses is a practice commonly associated with sound property management.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 34-18-45 of Rhode Island General Laws gives tenants the right to seek court-ordered injunctive relief if a landlord enters unlawfully, enters in an unreasonable manner, or makes repeated entry demands that rise to the level of harassment. Tenants who prevail in a court action under this provision are entitled to recover actual damages as well as costs and reasonable attorney's fees. Tenants who believe their access rights have been violated may wish to document each incident carefully, consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with Rhode Island law, or explore the remedies available through the courts under § 34-18-45.
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
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation