R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 45-24.2 § 45-24.2-11
Rent payments
Operative Text
Notwithstanding any lease or other agreement, if the enforcing officer of any city or town, which has adopted the provisions of this chapter, has ordered the repair, alteration, or improvement of a dwelling in that the officer has disclosed the dwelling to be a serious hazard or imminent peril to the health, safety, or welfare of the occupants, then the obligations of paying the rent to the landlord are suspended, and the rent shall be paid into an escrow account established by the enforcing officer to be paid to the landlord or any other party authorized to make repairs (including the enforcing officer) to defray the costs of correcting the conditions, and no action shall be maintained by the landlord against the tenant for the rent or for possession. Sums paid into the escrow fund in excess of those necessary to make repairs shall be paid to the landlord on completion. If the tenant fails to make payments to the enforcing officer then an action for rent or possession may be maintained, subject to any defenses that the tenant may have under the lease or agreement.
Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24.2-11, when a city or town enforcing officer formally orders repairs to a dwelling because it poses a serious hazard or imminent peril to occupants, the normal obligation to pay rent directly to the landlord is suspended by operation of law. Instead, rent must be directed into an escrow account administered by the enforcing officer, and those funds are used to cover the cost of correcting the hazardous conditions. Any escrowed funds left over after repairs are completed are released to the landlord, and while the escrow arrangement is in effect, the landlord cannot pursue the tenant for unpaid rent or for eviction based on nonpayment.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 45-24.2-11, once a city or town enforcing officer issues a repair order citing a serious hazard or imminent peril, compliant property owners understand that rent payments will be redirected into an escrow account rather than paid directly to them. Landlords who promptly address the cited conditions can expect that any escrowed funds exceeding the actual repair costs will be returned to them upon completion of the work. Operators familiar with this chapter typically maintain records of repair expenditures and communicate with the enforcing officer to facilitate timely release of escrowed funds.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 45-24.2-11 gives tenants in cities and towns that have adopted this chapter a significant protection: when an enforcing officer has declared a dwelling a serious hazard or imminent peril and ordered repairs, tenants are generally required to redirect rent into an escrow account rather than pay the landlord directly, and the landlord cannot sue for that rent or for possession during this period. Tenants who continue making payments to the escrow account preserve this protection, while those who stop paying altogether may lose it and face an action for rent or possession, subject to any defenses available under their lease. Tenants who believe this provision applies to their situation may wish to contact their local housing or code enforcement office, a tenant-rights organization, or consult an attorney to understand the options available under § 45-24.2-11.
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.
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