reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 34-18-20 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 34 - Property|Chapter 34-18 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act|Section 34-18-20 - Disclosure.

§ 34-18-20. Disclosure.(a) A landlord or any person authorized to enter into a rental agreement on his or her behalf shall disclose to the tenant in writing, at or before the commencement of the tenancy, the name, address and number of:(1) The person authorized to manage the premises; and(2) An owner of the premises or a person authorized to act for and on behalf of the owner for the purpose of service of process and receiving and receipting for notices and demands.(b) The information required to be furnished by this section shall be kept current. This section extends to and is enforceable against any successor landlord, owner, or manager.(c) A person who fails to comply with subsection (a) of this section becomes an agent of each person who is a landlord for:(1) Service of process and receiving and receipting for notices and demands; and(2) Performing the obligations of the landlord under this chapter and under the rental agreement and expending or making available for the purpose of all rent collected from the premises.(d) A landlord who becomes delinquent on a mortgage securing real estate upon which the dwelling unit is located for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days shall notify the tenant that the property may be subject to foreclosure; and until the foreclosure occurs the tenant must continue to pay rent to the landlord as provided under the rental agreement.History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 200, § 2; P.L. 2014, ch. 486, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 513, § 1.
RI Gen L § 34-18-21 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 34 - Property|Chapter 34-18 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act|Section 34-18-21 - Landlord to deliver possession of dwelling unit.

§ 34-18-21. Landlord to deliver possession of dwelling unit.At the commencement of the term a landlord shall deliver possession of the premises to the tenant in compliance with the rental agreement and § 34-18-22. The landlord may bring an action for possession against any person wrongfully in possession and may recover the damages provided in § 34-18-38(c).History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 200, § 2.
RI Gen L § 34-18-22 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 34 - Property|Chapter 34-18 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act|Section 34-18-22 - Landlord to maintain premises.

§ 34-18-22. Landlord to maintain premises. [Effective until January 1, 2022.](a) A landlord shall:(1) Comply with the requirements of applicable building and housing codes affecting health and safety;(2) Make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition;(3) Keep all common areas of the premises in a clean and safe condition;(4) Maintain in good and safe working order and condition all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and other facilities and appliances, including elevators, supplied or required to be supplied by him or her;(5) Provide and maintain appropriate receptacles and conveniences for the removal of ashes, garbage, rubbish, and other waste incidental to the occupancy of the dwelling unit as required by § 45-24.3-6, or applicable local codes if more restrictive, and arrange for their removal; and(6) Supply running water and reasonable amounts of hot water at all times as required by § 45-24.3-7, or applicable local codes if more restrictive, and reasonable heat as required by § 45-24.3-9, or applicable local codes if more restrictive, between October 1 and May 1, except where the building that includes the dwelling unit is not required by law to be equipped for that purpose, or the dwelling unit is so constructed that heat or hot water is generated by an installation within the exclusive control of the tenant and supplied by a direct public utility connection.(b) If the duty imposed by subsection (a)(1) of this section is greater than any duty imposed by any other paragraph of that subsection, the landlord's duty shall be determined by reference to subsection (a)(1) of this section.(c) The landlord and tenant of a dwelling unit may agree in writing that the tenant perform specified repairs, maintenance tasks, alterations and remodeling but only if:(1) The agreement of the parties is entered into in good faith and set forth in a writing signed by the parties and supported by adequate consideration;(2) The work is not necessary to cure noncompliance with subsection (a)(1) of this section; and(3) The agreement does not diminish or affect the obligation of the landlord to other tenants in the premises.History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 200, § 2.
RI Gen L § 34-18-22.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 34 - Property|Chapter 34-18 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act|Section 34-18-22.1 - Landlord's duty to notify tenant of violation.

§ 34-18-22.1. Landlord's duty to notify tenant of violation.(a) A landlord, when cited by a state or local minimum housing code enforcement agency for a housing code violation, shall, within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notice, deliver a copy of the notice of violation to each residential tenant of the building affected by said violation, unless within said thirty (30) day period the landlord has corrected all violations set forth in the notice of violation to the satisfaction of the state or local minimum housing code enforcement agency which issued the notice of violation.(b) A landlord, prior to entering into any residential rental agreement, shall inform a prospective tenant of any outstanding minimum housing code violations which exist on the building that is the subject of the rental agreement.History of Section.P.L. 1988, ch. 596, § 1.
RI Gen L § 34-18-22.2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 34 - Property|Chapter 34-18 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act|Section 34-18-22.2 - Landlord's duty regarding compliance with zoning and minimum housing laws.

§ 34-18-22.2. Landlord's duty regarding compliance with zoning and minimum housing laws.Whenever any landlord, either by his or her own labor or through the use of others acting on his or her behalf, undertakes physical alterations to an existing building which alterations create a residential apartment or apartments, and the landlord knew or should have known that the alterations would result in the construction of an apartment or apartments which violate the applicable state and/or local zoning laws and/or state or local minimum housing codes, the landlord shall be responsible to pay the moving costs of any tenants required to move from any of the apartments because of the nonconformity of the apartments with the law; provided, however, that the landlord will be required to pay such moving costs only to a place within the same city or town where the property in violation of the law is located.History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 410, § 1.
RI Gen L § 34-18-22.3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 34 - Property|Chapter 34-18 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act|Section 34-18-22.3 - Nonresident landlord to designate agent for service of process.

§ 34-18-22.3. Nonresident landlord to designate agent for service of process.A landlord who is not a resident of this state shall designate and continuously maintain an agent upon whom service may be made of any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be served, including, but not limited to, notices of minimum housing code violations. The agent shall be a resident of this state or a corporation authorized to do business in this state. The landlord's designation shall be in writing, shall include the name and address of the agent, shall include the street address of each property designated to the agent, and shall be filed with the secretary of state and with the clerk of the city or town wherein the dwelling unit is located. Any landlord who fails to comply with the requirements of this section shall be subject to a civil fine of one hundred dollars ($100) per month up to a maximum of one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200) in a calendar year or if the monthly rent exceeds one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200), the civil fine shall be one month's rent for the calendar year, payable to the municipality.History of Section.P.L. 1996, ch. 336, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 444, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 213, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 265, § 1.
RI Gen L § 34-18-23 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 34 - Property|Chapter 34-18 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act|Section 34-18-23 - Limitation of liability upon sale or change of management.

§ 34-18-23. Limitation of liability upon sale or change of management.(a) (1) A landlord who conveys premises that include a dwelling unit subject to a rental agreement in a good faith sale to a bona fide purchaser is relieved of liability under the rental agreement and this chapter as to events occurring after written notice to the tenant of the conveyance. In no event may the relief from liability predate the conveyance itself.(2) Written notice, for purposes of this section, must include the name(s), address, and telephone number of the person or persons purchasing the property and assuming liability. To be effective, the written notice must also certify compliance with § 45-24.3-17 that prohibits sale or lease of property until any outstanding housing code violations have been corrected or the seller or lessor has provided to the buyer or lessee, as well as to the enforcing officer, all notices regarding violations as required by the statute.(b) A manager of premises that include a dwelling unit is relieved of liability under the rental agreement and this chapter as to events occurring after written notice to the tenant of the termination of his or her management. The written notice must include the name(s), address, and telephone number of the person or persons assuming management and/or the person or persons within the state exercising ownership or responsibility over the property.(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the tenant's rights and duties under an existing rental agreement, and the purchaser of property or any immediate successor in interest to a mortgagor, other than a third-party, bona fide purchaser, of a premises containing four (4) or fewer dwelling units takes title subject to the same rights and responsibilities toward the tenant that the seller or mortgagor had.History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 200, § 2; P.L. 2014, ch. 486, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 513, § 1.
RI Gen L § 34-18-24 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 34 - Property|Chapter 34-18 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act|Section 34-18-24 - Tenant to maintain dwelling unit.

§ 34-18-24. Tenant to maintain dwelling unit.A tenant shall:(1) Comply with all obligations primarily imposed upon tenants by applicable provisions of building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety;(2) Keep that part of the premises that he or she occupies and uses as clean and safe as the condition of the premises permit;(3) Dispose from his or her dwelling unit all ashes, garbage, rubbish, and other waste in a clean and safe manner;(4) Keep all plumbing fixtures in the dwelling unit or used by the tenant as clean as their condition permits;(5) Use in a reasonable manner all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and other facilities and appliances, including elevators, in the premises;(6) Not deliberately or negligently destroy, deface, damage, impair, or remove any part of the premises or knowingly permit any person to do so;(7) Conduct himself or herself, and require other persons on the premises with his or her consent to conduct themselves, in a manner that will not disturb his or her neighbors' peaceful enjoyment of the premises;(8) Refrain from using any part of the premises in a manner such as would constitute the maintaining of a narcotics nuisance under the provisions of § 21-28-4.06;(9) Refrain from using any part of the premises or any public property adjacent thereto for the manufacture, sale, or delivery of a controlled substance or from possessing on the premises or any public property adjacent thereto with the intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver a controlled substance classified in schedule I or schedule II of chapter 28 of title 21; and(10) Refrain from any crime of violence on the premises or on any public property adjacent to said premises. A "crime of violence" means and includes any of the following crimes or an attempt to commit any of the following crimes; murder, manslaughter, arson, rape, sexual assault, mayhem, kidnapping, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault or battery involving grave bodily injury, and a felony assault with intent to commit any offense.History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 200, § 2; P.L. 1988, ch. 649, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 229, § 1.
RI Gen L § 34-18-25 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 34 - Property|Chapter 34-18 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act|Section 34-18-25 - Rules and regulations.

§ 34-18-25. Rules and regulations.(a) A landlord, from time to time, may adopt a rule or regulation, however described, concerning the tenant's use and occupancy of the premises. It is enforceable against the tenant only if:(1) Its purpose is to promote the convenience, safety, or welfare of the tenants on the premises, preserve the landlord's property from abusive use, or make a fair distribution of services and facilities held out for the tenants generally;(2) It is reasonably related to the purpose of which it is adopted;(3) It is sufficiently explicit in its prohibition, direction, or limitation of the tenant's conduct to fairly inform the tenant of what he or she must or must not do to comply;(4) It applies to all tenants in the premises in a fair manner;(5) It is not for the purpose of evading the obligations of the landlord; and(6) The tenant has notice of it at the time he or she enters into the rental agreement, or when it is adopted.(b) If a rule or regulation is adopted after the tenant enters into the rental agreement that works a substantial modification of his or her bargain, it is not valid unless the tenant consents to it in writing.History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 200, § 2.
RI Gen L § 34-18-26 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 34 - Property|Chapter 34-18 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act|Section 34-18-26 - Access.

§ 34-18-26. Access.(a) A tenant shall not unreasonably withhold consent to the landlord to enter into the dwelling unit in order to inspect the premises, make necessary or agreed repairs, decorations, alterations, or improvements, supply necessary or agreed services, or exhibit the dwelling unit to prospective or actual purchasers, mortgagees, tenants, workers, or contractors.(b) A landlord may enter the dwelling unit without consent of the tenant in case of emergency, or, during any absence of the tenant in excess of seven (7) days, if reasonably necessary for the protection of the property.(c) A landlord shall not abuse the right of access or use it to harass the tenant. Except in case of emergency or unless it is impracticable to do so, the landlord shall give the tenant at least two (2) days' notice of his or her intent to enter and may enter only at reasonable times.(d) A landlord has no other right of access except:(1) Pursuant to court order;(2) As permitted by § 34-18-39; or(3) Unless the tenant has abandoned or surrendered the premises.History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 200, § 2.
RI Gen L § 34-18-27 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 34 - Property|Chapter 34-18 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act|Section 34-18-27 - Tenant to use and occupy.

§ 34-18-27. Tenant to use and occupy.Unless otherwise agreed, a tenant shall occupy his or her dwelling unit only as a dwelling unit. The rental agreement may require that the tenant notify the landlord of any anticipated extended absence from the premises in excess of ten (10) days no later than the first day of the extended absence.History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 200, § 2.
RI Gen L § 34-18-28 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 34 - Property|Chapter 34-18 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act|Section 34-18-28 - Noncompliance by the landlord in general.

§ 34-18-28. Noncompliance by the landlord in general.(a) Except as provided by this chapter, if there is a noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or a noncompliance with § 34-18-22 materially affecting health and safety, the tenant may deliver a written notice to the landlord specifying the acts and omissions constituting the breach and that the rental agreement will terminate upon a date not less than thirty (30) days after receipt of the notice if the breach is not remedied in twenty (20) days, and the rental agreement shall terminate as provided in the notice subject to the following:(1) If the breach is remediable by repairs, the payment of damages or otherwise and the landlord adequately remedies the breach before the date specified in the notice, the rental agreement shall not terminate by reason of the breach.(2) If substantially the same act or omission which constituted a prior noncompliance of which notice was given recurs within six (6) months, the tenant may terminate the rental agreement upon at least fourteen (14) days' written notice specifying the breach and the date of termination of the rental agreement.(3) The tenant may not terminate for a condition caused by the deliberate or negligent act or omission of the tenant, a member of his or her family, or other person on the premises with his or her consent.(b) Except as provided in this chapter, the tenant may recover actual damages and obtain injunctive relief for noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or § 34-18-22. If the landlord's noncompliance is willful, the tenant may recover reasonable attorney's fees.(c) The remedy provided in subsection (b) of this section is in addition to any right of the tenant arising under subsection (a).(d) If the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord shall return all security recoverable by the tenant under § 34-18-19 and all prepaid rent.History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 200, § 2.
RI Gen L § 34-18-29 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 34 - Property|Chapter 34-18 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act|Section 34-18-29 - Failure to deliver possession.

§ 34-18-29. Failure to deliver possession.(a) If the landlord fails to deliver possession of the dwelling unit to the tenant as provided in § 34-18-21, rent abates until possession is delivered and the tenant may:(1) Terminate the rental agreement upon at least five (5) days' written notice to the landlord, and, upon termination, the landlord shall return all prepaid rent and security; or(2) Demand performance of the rental agreement by the landlord and, if the tenant elects, bring action for possession of the dwelling unit against the landlord.(b) If a person's failure to deliver possession is willful and not in good faith, an aggrieved person may recover from that person an amount not more than three (3) months' periodic rent or threefold the actual damages sustained, whichever is greater, and reasonable attorney's fees.History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 200, § 2.
RI Gen L § 34-18-30 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 34 - Property|Chapter 34-18 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act|Section 34-18-30 - Self-help for limited repairs.

§ 34-18-30. Self-help for limited repairs.(a) If the landlord fails to comply with subsection of § 34-18-22(a)(1), (2), (4), (5), or (6), and the reasonable cost of compliance is less than one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125), the tenant may cause repairs to be done in a skilled manner, in compliance with applicable state and local codes, and deduct from his or her rent the actual and reasonable cost or the fair and reasonable value of the repairs if:(1) The tenant notifies the landlord of his or her intention to correct the condition at the landlord's expense; and(2) The landlord fails to comply within twenty (20) days, or fails to demonstrate ongoing, good faith efforts to comply, after being notified by the tenant in writing; or, in the case of emergency, the landlord either cannot be reached by the tenant, or the landlord fails to comply as promptly as conditions require; and(3) The tenant submits an itemized statement to the landlord of the cost or the fair and reasonable value of the repairs made.(b) A tenant may not repair at the landlord's expense if the condition was caused by the deliberate or negligent act or omission of the tenant, a member of his or her family, or other person on the premises with his or her consent.History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 200, § 2.
RI Gen L § 34-18-31 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 34 - Property|Chapter 34-18 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act|Section 34-18-31 - Wrongful failure to supply heat, water, hot water, or essential services.

§ 34-18-31. Wrongful failure to supply heat, water, hot water, or essential services.(a) If, contrary to the rental agreement or § 34-18-22, the landlord willfully or negligently fails to supply heat, running water, hot water, electric, gas, or other essential service, the tenant may give reasonable notice to the landlord specifying the breach and may:(1) Take reasonable and appropriate measures to secure reasonable amounts of heat, running water, hot water, electric, gas, and other essential service during the period of the landlord's noncompliance and deduct their actual and reasonable costs from the periodic rent; or(2) Recover damages based upon the diminution in the fair rental value of the dwelling unit; or(3) Procure reasonable substitute housing during the period of the landlord's noncompliance, in which case the tenant is excused from paying rent for the period of the landlord's noncompliance.(b) In addition to the remedy provided in subsection (a)(3) of this section, the tenant may recover the actual and reasonable cost or fair and reasonable value of the substitute housing not in excess of an amount equal to the periodic rent, and in any case under subsection (a) of this section, may recover reasonable attorney's fees.(c) If the tenant proceeds under this section, he or she may not proceed under § 34-18-28 or § 34-18-30 as to that breach.(d) Rights of the tenant under this section do not arise until he or she has given notice to the landlord, nor does this section apply if the condition was caused by the deliberate or negligent act or omission of the tenant, a member of his or her family, or other person on the premises with his or her consent.History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 200, § 2.
RI Gen L § 34-18-32 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 34 - Property|Chapter 34-18 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act|Section 34-18-32 - Landlord's noncompliance as defense to action for possession or rent.

§ 34-18-32. Landlord's noncompliance as defense to action for possession or rent.(a) In an action for possession based upon nonpayment of rent or in an action for rent when the tenant is in possession, the tenant may counterclaim for any amount he or she may recover under the rental agreement or this chapter. In that event, the court, from time to time, may order the tenant to pay into court all or part of the rent accrued and thereafter accruing, and shall determine the amount due to each party. The party to whom a net amount is owed shall be paid first from the money paid into court, and the balance by the other party. If no rent remains due after application of this section, judgment shall be entered for the tenant in the action for possession. If the defense or counterclaim by the tenant is frivolous or without any basis in fact, the landlord may recover reasonable attorney's fees.(b) In an action for rent when the tenant is not in possession, he or she may counterclaim as provided in subsection (a) of this section, but is not required to pay any rent into court.History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 200, § 2.