R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 45-25 § 45-25-17
Low rent policy
Operative Text
It is declared to be the policy of this state that each housing authority manage and operate its housing projects in an efficient manner so as to enable it to fix the rentals for dwelling accommodations at the lowest possible rates consistent with its providing decent, safe, and sanitary dwelling accommodations, and that no housing authority constructs or operates any project for profit, or as a source of revenue to the city. To this end the authority shall fix the rentals for dwellings in its projects at no higher rates than it finds to be necessary in order to produce revenues (together with all other available moneys, revenues, income, and receipts of the authority from whatever sources derived) sufficient to: (1) Pay, as it becomes due, the principal and interest on the bonds of the authority; (2) Meet the cost of, and provide for, maintaining and operating the projects (including the cost of any insurance) and the administrative expenses of the authority; and (3) Create (during not less than the six (6) years immediately succeeding its issuance of any bonds) a reserve sufficient to meet the largest principal and interest payments which will be due on the bonds in any one year following and to maintain the reserve.
Section 45-25-17 of Rhode Island General Laws establishes a statewide policy requiring local housing authorities to run their housing projects efficiently and to keep rents as low as possible while still maintaining decent, safe, and sanitary conditions. Rents may only be set at levels necessary to cover bond obligations, operating and maintenance costs, and a required financial reserve — not to generate profit for the authority or the city. This provision frames public housing as a service rather than a revenue-generating enterprise.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Housing authorities operating under R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-25-17 are generally expected to set rents at the minimum level needed to meet three specific financial obligations: debt service on bonds, operating and maintenance costs, and a reserve fund built up over at least six years following bond issuance. Compliant authorities document that rental rates are driven by these cost factors rather than by profit motives or municipal revenue goals. Operators typically conduct regular financial reviews to confirm that rents remain no higher than what these obligations require.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-25-17, tenants in Rhode Island public housing have a statutory basis to expect that their rents reflect the actual costs of running the project efficiently — not profit-taking or city revenue generation. If a tenant believes a housing authority is setting rents beyond what this low-rent policy permits, general enforcement paths include raising the issue with the housing authority's governing board, contacting state or local oversight bodies, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization familiar with public housing law. Consulting a legal aid organization can help clarify what remedies may be available under this provision.
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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