R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-18.2 § 34-18.2-5
Rent increases for leased land
Operative Text
(a) A landowner, as defined in § 34-18.2-2, shall give the homeowner sixty (60) days' written notice prior to any lot rent increase. The written notice shall set forth the current rent, the proposed rent, and the date upon which the increase shall take effect. (b) If a homeowner or a homeowners' association, having, the power and authority to negotiate rental terms on behalf of member homeowners, believes that the rent increase is "excessive" as defined in this section, the homeowner or authorized homeowners' association may submit the matter to binding arbitration pursuant to chapter 3 of title 10. In the event the parties are unable to agree upon an arbitrator, an arbitrator shall be appointed in the manner set forth in chapter 3 of title 10. The costs and expenses of the arbitrator shall be borne equally by the landowner and the homeowner or authorized homeowners' association. (c) An "excessive" rent increase, for purposes of this section, is an increase which unreasonably exceeds the fair rental value of the property based on market conditions at the time. (d) The arbitrator shall promptly hear the dispute and render a decision based on the "excessive" rent increase standard as set forth in this section. (e) No lot rent increase shall go into effect until the earlier of: (1) Completion of the binding arbitration process; or (2) Ninety (90) days after the written notice given under subsection (a) of this section. (f) This section shall not apply to chapter 31 of title 44.
Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18.2-5, a landowner in a leased-land community must provide a homeowner with at least 60 days' written notice before raising lot rent, and that notice must spell out the current rent, the proposed rent, and the effective date. If a homeowner or an authorized homeowners' association considers the proposed increase 'excessive'—meaning it unreasonably exceeds fair market rental value—they may trigger binding arbitration under Rhode Island's arbitration statutes. No rent increase takes effect until arbitration concludes or 90 days after the written notice is delivered, whichever comes first, and arbitration costs are split equally between the parties.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of leased-land communities subject to § 34-18.2-5 generally prepare written rent-increase notices that clearly state the current lot rent, the new proposed amount, and the date the increase is set to take effect, delivered at least 60 days in advance. Because the increase cannot go into effect until arbitration is complete or 90 days have passed—whichever is earlier—compliant operators account for that potential delay when planning rent adjustments. Landowners also budget for the possibility of sharing arbitration costs equally with a homeowner or homeowners' association if a dispute over an 'excessive' increase is submitted to binding arbitration under § 34-18.2-5.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Homeowners in leased-land communities have a right under § 34-18.2-5 to receive at least 60 days' written notice before any lot rent increase takes effect, with the notice detailing both the current and proposed rent amounts. If a homeowner—or a homeowners' association with authority to negotiate on members' behalf—believes the proposed increase unreasonably exceeds fair market rental value, § 34-18.2-5 provides a path to challenge it through binding arbitration under Rhode Island's arbitration statutes, with costs shared equally by both sides. Homeowners who want to understand whether a proposed increase might qualify as 'excessive' or how to initiate arbitration may find it helpful to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Rhode Island manufactured-housing law.
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
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