860 R.I. Code R. 00-00-2 § 860-RICR-00-00-2 § 2.7
Tenant Rights
Operative Text
A. Tenants shall have the right to file a complaint with HRC if the Owner's response to a Notice of Deteriorating Conditions is unsatisfactory or if the lead hazard mitigation performed is unsatisfactory. B. Tenants shall have the right to voluntarily notify the Owner of any At-Risk Occupants, potential or otherwise, at any point before, during, or after unit Turnover. At-Risk Occupants have the right to lead safe housing. C. Households that include an At-Risk Occupant shall have the right of a private action to seek injunctive relief from a court with jurisdiction against the Owner to compel lead safe compliance. A person who prevails is entitled to an award of the costs of the litigation and reasonable attorney's fees in an amount to be fixed by the court.
Under 860 RICR 00-00-2 § 2.7, tenants living in Rhode Island rental housing have several protections related to lead hazards. If a landlord's response to a notice about deteriorating conditions is inadequate, or if lead hazard mitigation work is unsatisfactory, tenants may file a complaint with the Housing Resources Commission (HRC). Households that include an 'At-Risk Occupant'—such as a young child or pregnant person—are also granted the right to pursue a private court action to compel lead-safe compliance, with the possibility of recovering litigation costs and attorney's fees if they prevail.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 860 RICR 00-00-2 § 2.7, compliant property owners generally respond promptly and adequately to any Notice of Deteriorating Conditions and ensure that lead hazard mitigation work meets applicable standards. Operators should be aware that tenants may voluntarily disclose the presence of At-Risk Occupants at any time—before, during, or after unit turnover—and that such disclosure triggers heightened obligations around lead-safe housing. Failure to meet those obligations can expose an owner to HRC complaints and private court actions, including potential liability for the tenant's litigation costs and attorney's fees.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 860 RICR 00-00-2 § 2.7 gives tenants the right to file a complaint with the Housing Resources Commission (HRC) if their landlord's response to a Notice of Deteriorating Conditions or the lead hazard mitigation performed is unsatisfactory. Tenants may also voluntarily inform their landlord about any At-Risk Occupants—such as children under six or pregnant individuals—at any stage of tenancy, and those occupants are entitled to lead-safe housing. If a household includes an At-Risk Occupant and the landlord fails to comply, the household has the right to seek injunctive relief through a court, and a prevailing party may be entitled to recover litigation costs and reasonable attorney's fees; tenant-rights organizations in Rhode Island can help explain these options.
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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