2023 -- H 5690
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LC001305
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT
Introduced By: Representatives Cruz, Potter, Batista, Speakman, Tanzi, Stewart, Boylan,
McNamara, Biah, and Voas
Date Introduced: February 17, 2023
Referred To: House Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 34-18-19 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-18 entitled "Residential 1
Landlord and Tenant Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
34-18-19. Security deposits. 3
(a) A landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit, however denominated, in an 4
amount or value in excess of one month’s periodic rent. 5
(b) Upon termination of the tenancy, the amount of security deposit due to the tenant shall 6
be the entire amount given by the tenant as a security deposit, minus any amount of unpaid accrued 7
rent, the amount due, if any, for reasonable cleaning expenses, the amount due, if any, for 8
reasonable trash disposal expenses and the amount of physical damages to the premises, other than 9
ordinary wear and tear, that the landlord has suffered by reason of the tenant’s noncompliance with 10
§ 34-18-24, all as itemized by the landlord in a written notice delivered to the tenant. The landlord 11
shall deliver the notice, together with the amount of the security deposit due to the tenant, within 12
twenty (20) days after the later of either termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, or the 13
tenant’s providing the landlord with a forwarding address for the purpose of receiving the security 14
deposit. 15
(c) If the landlord fails to comply with subsection (b), the tenant may recover the amount 16
due him or her, together with damages in an amount equal to twice the amount wrongfully withheld, 17
and reasonable attorney fees. 18
(d) This section does not preclude the landlord or tenant from recovering other damages to 19
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which he or she may be entitled under this chapter. 1
(e) This section does not preclude any landlord who rents a furnished apartment from 2
demanding or receiving a furniture security deposit if the replacement value of the furniture being 3
furnished by the landlord valued at the time the lease is executed is five thousand dollars ($5,000) 4
or greater, in which instance the landlord may charge a separate furniture security deposit of up to 5
one month’s periodic rent. 6
(f) Upon termination of the tenancy, the amount of furniture security deposit due to the 7
tenant shall be the entire amount given by the tenant as a furniture security deposit, minus the 8
amount due, if any, for reasonable cleaning expenses and repair and the amount of physical 9
damages to the furniture, other than ordinary wear and tear. The landlord shall deliver the notice, 10
together with the amount of the furniture security deposit due to the tenant, within twenty (20) days 11
after the later of either termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, or the tenant’s providing 12
the landlord with a forwarding address for the purpose of receiving the furniture security deposit. 13
(g) In the event the landlord transfers his or her interest in the premises, the holder of the 14
landlord’s interest in the premises at the time of the termination of the tenancy is bound by this 15
section. 16
(h) No rental agreement shall contain any waiver of the provisions of this section. 17
(i)(1) Any lessor or their agent who receives a security deposit, however denominated, in 18
accordance with this section, shall, beginning with the first day of tenancy, pay interest at the rate 19
of five percent (5%) per year or other such lesser amount of interest as has been received from the 20
bank where the deposit has been held. Such interest shall be paid over to the tenant each year as 21
provided in this section; provided, however, that in the event that the tenancy is terminated before 22
the anniversary date of such tenancy, the tenant shall receive all accrued interest within thirty (30) 23
days of such termination. If, after thirty (30) days from the end of each year of the tenancy, the 24
tenant has not received said interest due or said notice to deduct the interest from the next rental 25
payment, the tenant may deduct from their next rent payment the interest due. 26
(2) If the lessor fails to pay any interest to which the tenant is then entitled within thirty 27
(30) days after the termination of the tenancy, the tenant, upon proof of the same in an action against 28
the lessor within the district court, shall be awarded damages in an amount equal to three (3) times 29
the amount of interest to which the tenant is entitled, together with court costs and reasonable 30
attorneys’ fees. 31
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 32
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT
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This act would provide that landlords would pay interest on security deposits in residential 1
landlord-tenant matters. The rate of interest would generally be five percent (5%). 2
This act would take effect upon passage. 3
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